The eyes of the world are on France these days. The great festival of sport, the 2024 Olympic Games, is being celebrated here. Some are following the sport, others are cheering, some are only interested in the spectacle of the opening ceremony, others are surprised by the positive and negative findings. The Sisters of the Divine Saviour, however, have a different reason. They have come from all corners of the world to France, the country where the Olympics are taking place. But they are celebrating a different encounter. The General Chapter 2024 has begun, and after six years they will once again take place, marvel, reflect and give thanks, but above all decide how to move forward.
Who and how will lead the Congregation in this changing world? What will we implement and when? Which path will allow us to remain faithful - to God, to our commitments, to our charism, to the Church and to each one's mission? Yes, it really is a dynamic. Like in sport. In an atmosphere of the dynamics of sport, we celebrate the dynamics of encounter, the dynamics of spiritual communion and spiritual discernment.
“With faith and hope, let's revitalize our charism in our changing world!” is the motto of the General Chapter of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Divine Saviour (Niederbronn Sisters), which began on 29 July 2024 in the General Motherhouse in Oberbronn with the opening service at 11:00 a.m. in the convent church.
The sisters began the working part of the chapter with a symbolic exchange about what expresses their situation in the individual countries. The sisters of the French region used the variety of the Olympic rings to express their experience of the situation that characterises them - the host country, the meeting of different cultures, customs, experiences, but also fidelity - the symbol of the rings.
The symbols of the other provinces show how dynamic this is: the large suitcase as a sign of the readiness for change in the Province of Germany-Austria. The small shoes to express the need to take small steps to achieve big goals for the Province of Slovakia, which looks back on 15 years of fusion with the original Congregation. The boat of the Indian Province expresses the willingness to change and the determination to weather storms of all kinds, but only with Christ on board.
The sisters of the Argentina delegation remind us that Christ is still shining on them, and that we only bear fruit with him and are only a fragile plant without him, they realise together with the sisters of the Cameroon delegation.
You know, a chapter like this consists of many, many words. But first you have to listen, and so the sisters begin in depth with the symbol of the province of Angola - the Holy Scriptures - the Word of God that connects everything.
Over the next few days, we will go into the silence of spiritual renewal and then get back to you.