Greetings from your Province Representatives (.pdf) General Chapter 2008: Issue 1 (.pdf) General Chapter 2008: Issue 2 (.pdf) General Chapter 2008: Issue 3 (.pdf) General Chapter 2008: Issue 4 (.pdf)

The lay participants at the Chapter will meet in session with the MSCs from July 7th through the 13th. The laity representing the Stella Maris Province are Margaret Fox-Tully from Cabrini College, Cath Garner from Cabrini Health, Australia and Patricia Krasnausky of Cabrini Eldercare. The Sisters continue their meeting during the second week of the Chapter and on Sunday, July 20th, the election of the Superior General takes place. Later, during that final week, on Tuesday, July 22nd, the General Council will be elected. On Thursday, July 24th the Sisters will approve the Chapter conclusions. The formal closing of the Chapter will be held on Friday, July 25th.

The Superior General’s primary responsibility is to seek to foster both the Sisters’ and the Institute’s faithful response to the Lord’s will. This person will be elected for a six year term. The General Council is co-responsible with the Superior General for decisions concerning the life and progress of the Institute. These assistants are each responsible for a specific geographic area of provinces and/or regions.

Among the topics of discussion at this Chapter will be mission, formation and governance.

The following letter was written by Sr. Lina Colombini, Superior General of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart to the Missionary Sisters worldwide officially announcing the opening of the 14th General Chapter Year- 2008.

Dear Sisters,

Today, July 12, while the day of thanksgiving commemorating the centenary of the approval of the Institute is celebrated, I have the pleasure to announce the official opening of the preparatory period for the General Chapter which will be held in Codogno, July 4 to 25, 2008.

The Chapter theme was chosen in May during the Extended Council held in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It is the fruit of reflection and prayer on the synthesis of the responses to the questionnaires submitted regarding the re-reading of our Constitutions. This theme for the Chapter of 2008 is:

“The Cabrinian Mission Today”
“Do not fear! I have chosen you to go forth
and bring much fruit” (John 15:16)

In fact, beginning last year, we have reflected on our life and mission and how to live our life in the service of the Reign. We now enter the phase defined as the preparation for the Chapter, a graced event and privileged moment for the Institute and the Church.

“By our missionary vocation, we have pledged ourselves ‘to spread
that fire which he came to bring upon the earth.’” (Cs. 15).

“In the image of Jesus, the Beloved Son whom the Father consecrated
and sent into the world (John 10:36), those whom God calls to follow
him are also sent into the world to imitate his example and to
continue his mission.” (VC 72)

Our religious family, even though small, has its place in the Church and the world and is obliged to render its contribution of holiness and goodness.

The General Chapter is a new call from the Lord which can, and should, re-awaken in each of us and, in all the Institute, the original passion which led Mother Cabrini to found the Institute of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus so that they may be “bearers of the love of Christ to the world.”

“We are missionaries, daughters, and missionaries of the Divine Heart; therefore,
if we do not burn with love, we certainly do not deserve to
bear this beautiful title.” For this reason, to reflect on the mission is
to start anew from the origins of our vocation to find again and to
re-awaken the deep motivations of our vocational response to Him
who has “chosen us to go forth and bear fruit.”
May the Holy Spirit guide and accompany our steps during this time and may Mary,
Mother of Grace, obtain for us the docility and the capacity of listening to be able
to discern the presence of God in the history of our Institute.

Saint Frances Cabrini, intercede for us!

I greet you all affectionately in the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Sr. Lina Colombini, MSC,
Superior General

Read the Prayer for the 2008 General Chapter