UNKNOWN YET HOPEFUL FUTURE

Attending via YouTube, the Transition Ritual of the General Council on Sunday, February 27 was awesome. The blend of old and new, past and present driving us to the unknown yet hopeful future, was the moment of grace and blessings not only to the outgoing and incoming General Council but to the entire congregation.

Sister Sally began the Ritual by saying: “Welcome to all of you on this sacred and wonderful day! We gather to bless our new leaders, Dolores, Celine, Maria Cristina and Elisa, who, like Mary, proclaimed their Yes to God’s call. Their call was not received through an angel, but through the discerning voices of their sisters. May the same Spirit who attentively guided us through our 2021 General Chapter and the election, continue to accompany Dolores, Celine, Maria Cristina and Elisa as they now assume their ministry of service and love, leading and challenging us to live fully the graces of the Chapter.”

BE WOMEN OF GOD

The ritual that lasted about 40 minutes gave us a sense of deep gratitude and reverence for God’s intervention in the life of our congregation. Messages from all continents flocked through YouTube Chatbox, each uniquely expressing the sentiments of love and wishes.

Women accompanying women was the central theme of the Transition of the General Leadership. The Instrumental music at the beginning invited the audience to immerse into the spirit of the present. Sisters Sally, Ieda, Mariaelena, and Philo offered the opening prayer centered on five keywords: be aware, listen, be attentive, share, and be women of God. The litany of the Congregation, invoking our foremothers, enthused in each of us the desire to take risks and become bearers of God’s life for others.

A GESTURE OF LOVE, SUPPORT, AND BLESSING

The Scripture text from 1 Kings 19 was the symbolic passage chosen by the outgoing General leadership which speaks about the mantle of Eliza covering Elisha, and Elisha filled by the Spirit looks confidently into the unchartered path.

As a gesture of love, support, and blessing, Sisters Dolores, Celine, Maria Cristina, and Eliza were each given a shawl by the outgoing team, a reminder of the call to immerse ourselves in the Spirit through time spent on God's Word.  

The new team, in response, prayed for awakening, guidance, grace, and blessings. The transition ritual ended when the entire congregation extended hands in blessing the new General Leadership Team by the song “Blessing, Lord my God”.

Laveena D’Souza