Arrival
With the arrival of the last of the participants on Monday, the 30th July 2018 towards the end of the afternoon, the colourful group - consisting of elected delegates and ex officio members – who will be participating during the coming three weeks in the general chapter of the congregation was complete; normally the general chapter takes place takes place every six years – in the general motherhouse at Oberbronn, Alsace, France.
The participants come from India, Argentina, Angola, Cameroon, Slovakia, France, Germany and Austria. They are really colourful: in Sarees, African costumes, different religious habits or simply in „todays“dress; old or young. Together with 12 interpreters (women and men) who will assume the simultaneous translation of the session, there are almost 80 persons filling the chapter-hall.
Begin
The assembly representing the entire congregation begins on Tuesday, the 31st July, with a Eucharistic celebration in the motherhouse-church; in the side-chapel of the same is the sarkophagus of the foundress, Mother Alphonse Maria Eppinger. This very day, 151 years ago, she died; and moreover, we – the members of the chapter, sisters in the motherhouse and the guests - are delighted that soon, on 9th September, we are going to celebrate her Beatification in the Cathedral of Strasbourg.
Chaplain Fr. Bernhard Weber from Buehl, Germany, reminds us that the Spirit of God we are promised as counsel wants to give us his gifts which are not always identical to our own ideas.
Subsequently, Sr. Monika Heuser, superior general, who as such is also the president of the general chapter, formally opens it in the chapter-hall; previously she reminded us that in this gathering which represents our congregation, we embark upon a human and spiritual adventure during which we will be looking at the past 6 years and take a look to the coming.