Saying Good Bye

September 23, 2024: Today is a day of farewells. After the intense, exciting, productive, and blessed time shared during the 21st General Chapter, the departure of the international Capitulars and guests has begun.

At 12 o’clock, for one last time, many had lunch together at the Motherhouse, with the Board of Trustees of the St. Francis Foundation as special guests. The Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Dr. Ludger Hellenthal, and Dr. Ulrich Knopp, Member of the Board of Directors of St. Francis Foundation, conveyed warm greetings, also on behalf of Dr. Nils Brüggemann, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the St. Francis Foundation, and congratulated General Superior Sister M. Margarete Ulager and the new General Council.

On behalf of their delegations, Sister Maureen O’Connor, Superior of the U.S. Canonical House, Sister Maria Fidelis, Japan Province, and Sister M. Johncy, Indian Province, thanked the Generalate and the German Province for their hospitality. Sister M. Diethilde, Provincial Superior of the German Province, expressed her thanks for the multicultural experience and emphasized that she was looking forward to the reunion – hopefully, she said, back at the Motherhouse again!

Sister M. Hiltrud, still in her function as Motherhouse Superior, conveyed greetings from the Polish delegation which has already left due to the flood disaster in the Polish Province. Together with General Superior Sister M. Margarete, she wished all travelers a safe and blessed journey home.

Today, the daily coverage of the 21st General Chapter will also come to an end with a selection of photos set to the melody of the Prayer of St. Francis, played by Brian Blasco, Director of Communications and Archivist of the U.S. Canonical House, and also a member of the international Media Team that came together especially for the General Chapter, and is now saying goodbye: Sister M. Franciszka Wanat, Polish Province, and Sister M. Laetitia Matsunaga, Japanese Province, with Michael Kestin (photos and videos) and Claudia Berghorn, Director of Communications at the Generalate.

Thank you very much, see you soon and “Pace e bene!”