On August 13th and 14th, 2020, the General Councils of Chambery and Pinerolo had a video conference, with the communities of Pinerolo who are part of Brazilian delegation and the mission in Argentina to continue to reflect on the merger process between the two Congregations. These two days were full of sharing and clarification in a spirit of acceptance and trust. According to Sr. Ieda Tomazini; a general counsellor of Chambéry, “the purpose of the meeting was to know each other better and to listen carefully to the journey in view of the possible merger with the congregation of Chambéry.” The sharing was very rich and full of hope. We feel a lot of openness, honesty and clarity in expressing concerns, feelings and questions. The Sisters were well prepared and interacted with great openness and interest.
Sr. Ieda affirmed that “leaving behind a story, even if it was connected with ours, is always letting go of very significant experiences to embrace another which, in turn, is unknown. The path is being built step by step by both the congregations and I believe that both will emerge greatly enriched by this merger process”.
Sr. Vanda de Souza Reis, who is part of the Brazilian delegation of Pinerolo and resides in Bahia, northeast of Brazil, shared her impressions and feelings about the meeting. According to her, the meeting “strengthened ties, reduced distances and helped to embrace differences realistically”.
The Holy Spirit leads us on the path of fusion
This significant videoconference via zoom, with Mother Sally, Mother Gemma and their respective councils, on the morning of August 13th aroused a sincere gratitude in the hearts of Sisters of the Brazilian Delegation of Pinerolo.
We feel welcomed, understood and encouraged in the current process of fusion by the loving and enlightening words of Mother Sally. She helped us to live this moment with confidence and openness, aware that we are building a new and more intense communion together. She reminded us that we, from Pinerolo, are returning to our origin, Chambéry, from in 1825, young Mother Esperança and the other Sisters came out, full of faith and apostolic zeal: Pélagie Bonnet and Fébronie Devarnaz-Gros, to start the Congregation of St. Joseph in Pinerolo.
In our fraternal dialogue, we had space to express the many expectations that encourage us to choose fusion as a path that allows us to join forces for a mutual enrichment, expanding the vision of reality, opening new horizons, especially for the younger sisters, offering thus, the possibility of living the Charism of Fr. Medaille, in pursuit of appropriate responses to the demands of the mission in the present times.
"Towards a new reality of Communion"
We also sincerely recognize our fears of the unknown, a fear of having to leave our schemes of life, which give us security, to accept different styles and cultures. The lack of confidence in our own values &8203;&8203;and ability created in us an idea that the Sisters of the South of Brazil, are superior and difficult to approach. But with few experiences we started to deconstruct this distorted image. We found that they are actually very simple, deeply human, friendly, open, welcoming, respectful and coherent Sisters.
Mother Sally helped us to overcome worries and anxieties by outlining the merger as a process to be lived without haste. She added we need to give time for ourselves for a deeper reciprocal knowledge, so much so that a transition period in which the Brazilian Delegation could be ed as mission of the Italian Province of Chambery. The services of evangelization and social action already started could be continued respecting the affective and solidarity bond, built over the years between Italy and Brazil.
This period help in a natural exchange and mutual enrichment, through participation in the meetings, organized by Chambery, which will strengthen ties, reduce distances and help in realizing differences with each other realistically.
We sincerely thank God, Mother Sally, Mother Gemma and the two General Councils for their fraternal attention and understanding. We remain confident in our journey, letting ourselves be guided by the Spirit, whom we have already invoked every day to lead us “towards a new reality of Communion”.
Sr. Vanda de Souza Reis
