GENERAL COUNCIL
Society of Marie Reparatrice/Mary Reparatrix

General Chapter 2007/1

Rome
30th November 06
Feast of St. Andrew

To the capitulants
(Copy for each community)

 Dear Sisters,

Since the Provincial, Regional and Interregional Chapters are finished, we have the complete list of the members of right and elected members who will form the forthcoming General Chapter.

In this letter I therefore officially convoke the Chapter which will take place from the 1st to the 22nd July 2007, in Loyola, Spain.
It is with joy and gratitude that I call each one of you to live this great moment of discernment, to define together the orientations which will permit our congregation to find ways forward during the coming 6 years.
“The general chapter is an ecclesial event and is guided by the Spirit in its search for God’s will for the whole congregation.” (C131)
The Chapter is “a representative assembly of the whole congregation” and “it has the highest authority in the congregation.” (C130)

We do not come to the General Chapter to represent the province or region which sends us.  We are delegated by our province or region, having received the mission to “search for God’s will”, for the entire congregation.  Each one places herself at the service of a reality that is greater than her own, and brings her experience and originality to search with the others for what will be constructive for the whole body. 

At General level, we are becoming aware of the content of the different Chapter reports.  We thank you for the work done by your Chapters as well as the promptness with which we received your documents.  Many of you mention, as an element which brought life, the orientation of the visits: “you can do the more”.  We can make a link between this theme and that of the forthcoming Chapter: “What do we do with so great a love?”
As I said in the document introducing the work on the theme of the Chapter, “We desired that the next General Chapter would help us to rediscover a great missionary zeal, based on what is at the heart of our lives and our charism, to welcome the love of God who repairs and saves.”
The theme of the General Chapter is demanding and stimulating because it will lead us to take more risks for mission, to become less installed, to change our way of doing things and to become more open to collaboration and internationality.  

Among the 48 members of the Chapter, 22 participate for the first time at this type of meeting.  We invite you to pray for one another so that we may live a strong experience of unity during the Chapter.

From the 22nd to the 29th January 07, Sister Dolores Palencia, our facilitator, will be in Rome to work with us on the immediate preparation for the Chapter.  After that date we will send you further documents.
We will also send you some suggestions for prayer for the Chapter to be used during the Paschal season. It is important that we are united in prayer for the Chapter.

I add a last point in relation to the postulates.  If you desire to send a postulate to the General Chapter, the final date for arrival in Rome is the 15th January 07.   (C145-CC130)

As we begin the season of Advent, my hope is that we may fully live this liturgical time.  May our prayer be intensified so that the Reign of God will come among humanity, as a sign of hope and peace!

With my prayer and affection,
Sister Christine Barrière
General Superior

(Original in French)