ILAC Meeting in Lyon

From 25-27 September 2022 the usual annual meeting of the ILAC General Councils (Saint Joseph Institute of France - Lyon - Annecy - Chambéry) was held in Lyon.

After two years of pandemic during which the sisters met via Zoom, this year they were finally able to see each other in person. The congregation of Lyon hosted the meeting and welcomed the sisters from Rome, Annecy and Saint-Péray.

After a short introduction of the participants (some councils have been completely renewed compared to previous years), a detailed sharing was made on the “state of the house”, on the current situation where the congregations live today. While in Europe, North and South America there is a drastic decrease in members due to aging and the lack (or almost) of vocations and therefore to the consequent downsizing of the various ministries and communities, in Africa and Asia the congregations are enriching of new members, there is a flowering of new ministries with the opening of new communities and missions at the frontiers.

A topic that has created interest and has triggered serious reflection is the creation and use of a manual of policy with the consequent application of rules regarding the protection of minors and vulnerable adults in our congregations.

The four ILAC congregations participated at the Pan-African meeting which took place in Abidjan (Ivory Coast) from 22 to 29 August which saw the involvement of various CSJ congregations. Theme of the meeting was "The face of the Small Design today and the challenge for the future in Africa".

Driven by the Spirit, the “Little Design” is discovering on unexplored paths, creating new interactions and connections once unthinkable between congregations.

Sr. Maria Cristina Gavazzi -  General Councilor/Rome