General Council Reports and Farewell

September 10, 2024: Today’s focus was on the General Council’s reports, which General Vicaress Sister M. Rita Edakkoottathil started yesterday, explaining the Congregation’s International Formation.

This morning, General Councilor Sister M. Lima Arackal disussed the world synod before General Treasurer Sister M. Beata Kapica and Finance Director Martin Krawinkel shared the Generalate’s financial report.

Afterward, General Superior Sister M. Margarete Ulager gave the Generalate’s report for 2018 to 2024 – a very challenging term of office due to external factors such as natural desasters, the Covid pandemic and the outbreak of wars, but also many structural changes within the Congregation.

There were also changes in the General Leadership itself. Sister Margarete gratefully remembered Sister M. Christella Watanabe from the Japanese Province, who was elected General Vicaress in 2018 and passed away in April 2023. In May 2023, General Treasurer Sister Beata Kapica was elected as General Councilor for the remaining term of office. Moreover, Sister Laetitia Matsunaga from the Japanese Province joined the team as an assistant to the General administration. “I will be forever grateful for the love and support of my Sisters in the Generalate and all the Sisters who have been on this path with me for the last six years”, the General Superior said.

We will always remain children of our nations and cultures – but no province is an island!

(Sister M. Margarete Ulager)

In view of the dramatic change in the age structure of the members, Sister Margarete emphasized in her address the great importance of far-sighted planning and actively shaping the common future. “The will of God must always be sensed anew,” she explained, ”and so for already 180 years, our Sisters have been finding new answers to how we can bring the healing presence of Christ into the world.” In conclusion, the General Superior made an emotional plea for strengthening the internationality of the congregation and for communication that builds bridges both between the worldwide locations and between the older and younger sisters.

With gratitude, the Capitulars congratulated Sister Margarete and her team for their leadership and service and gave their formal approval of the acts of the General Council.

The meeting continued with perspective work from Sister Carol Zinn who made it very clear that – to gain a better perspective for the future of the international congregation – you have to get your feet off the ground.

Some impressions of today are available in the following video.