Custodians of life. We are reborn in comunion. These words inspire the work of the sisters who gather in Madrid (Spain) from July 17th to 27th during IV Provincial Chapter. Sisters from different places (Spain, Poland, Portugal, Philippines, Vietnam) arrived in Madrid to share our life and experiences in open dialogue, walking together in this task of constructing our present and future as one Province of Francisco Palau of Europe and Asia.
The first day began with warm welcome and a lot of embraces. Some sisters haven’t seen each other in such a long time! The first dinner was the time to share stories, memories and hopes that fill our hearts. In ambience of sisterhood, we woke up the next day to celebrate together and give thanks for a new day, with disposition to detach of all things that may hinder us from walking together as one family.
The chapter was opened by our General Animator, sister Maria Teresa García, who pointed out some important matters to guide the reflexion of these following days, to make of them truly a time of grace for our Province. She spoke about the challenges for our life and mission in today’s world, inviting us to keep renewing charism by being witnesses and pilgrims of hope. She highlighted all the journey already walked together with the lay and encouraged us to keep building this common charismatic family.
After all the formal acts, we celebrated Votive Mass to the Holy Spirit presided by Fr. Francisco Sanchez OCD. He challenged us not to remain in past, nor to only focus on future to be prepared, but to start building from our present, aware of all its beauty and difficulties. He also invited us to live the true freedom of spirit, with love and responsibility for the mission that God entrusted to us.
After lunch shared in fraternal ambience, we began our spiritual retreat guided by reflection of Fr. Felicisimo Martinez OP. His conference focused on three columns of religious life, that is, experience of God, fraternal life and mission. Without these three elements, our life will appear to be building on sand, instead of building on the solid rock. Our life may result fragile, lacking of joy and passion, if we fail to take care of them. In other moment, he challenged us to the task of purifying our sight so that we may learn to see the world, people, and God as they are, not as others want us to see them. He encouraged us to examine our prejudices and remain open to what is new, different, surprising: to remain open to convesion and change. With his world in our minds and hearts, we retire to rest and continue immersing ourselves in chapter reflection for the following days.
















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