Echoes from the Enlarged Council

With renewed passion, step by step, let us embrace with love, faith, trust and hope the objectives outlined in this expanded Council.

This expanded Council is marked by the powerful ecclesiastical experience of synodality, by the festive celebrations of the Jubilee Year, and by the joyful eighth centenary of the Canticle of the Creatures. May these events be, for all of us, a time of grace, of outpouring of the Spirit, of fruitful fraternal and missionary experience.

God grants us this time as a blessing to share our dreams and gifts, to share our desires, our projects, our methods, and to commit ourselves with renewed enthusiasm to the future of the life and mission of the Congregation, specifically, today, in formation.

This is a time for sharing, for exchange, for collaboration. It is a time to share the fruits of our research, our desires, our experiences, our projects, and our dreams... "Jesus will give us the hand so that we may follow in his footsteps."

April 2, 2025

We began with the opening Mass at 11:00 a.m., presided over by Fr. Daniel Painblanc OFM Cap. In his homily, he strongly invited us to put the Word of God into practice and to be ambassadors of Christ.

Sr. Maria Alcina Alpande, Superior General, read the opening remarks of our Extended Council, followed by the introduction of the participants: each presented their symbol to identify themselves and express their expectations.

April 3, 2025

Sr. Nathalie Becquart, Xavière (Undersecretary of the General Secretariat of the Synod in Rome) spoke on synodality and consecrated life, and its implications.

Synodality is a path of spiritual renewal and structural reforms to make the Church more participatory and missionary. The challenge of this synod is to become a Church of Listening, hence the need for people who listen.

April 4, 2025

Speech by Sr. Paula Jordão, from the Missionary Congregation Dei Verbum. She is by videoconference from Rome. She is at the UISG as a formation coordinator.

Her presentation is on formation and its challenges related to synodality.

April 5, 2025

Participants meet in language groups to work on the projects to be implemented: a year of preparation for Perpetual Profession, international community, and communication.

Pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi, April 6-12, 2025

April 14, 2025

This is a time for spontaneous sharing of experiences and evaluation, followed by closing remarks from Minister General Sister Maria Alcina Alpande. At 11:30 a.m., the closing mass is presided over by Father Philippe Mura, parish priest of La Salette.

The task of formation is never finished. We leave this expanded Council with the lamp of hope lit. We hope that the freshness of enthusiasm and commitment to this noble mission will help us penetrate ever more deeply into the mystery of God's love, which never tires of working in the people and events of every day.

United with Mary, Mother of God and our Mother, let us walk in the hope of a fruitful, transfigured, meaningful consecration for the glory of God!