November 5, 2012

In the afternoon the Sisters participating in the Chapter arrived at the Kairos Centre in Roehampton, London.

Members by right: Maria Lourdes Sanz - Provincial Superior, Maria Isabel Canton-Vice Provincial, Pilar Garcia - Provincial Councillor, Encarnacion Aguayo - Provincial Treasurer, Ana Maria Oroz - Provincial Secretary.

Elected : representing our communities in England: Maria Begona Perez, Tomasa de la Torre, Isabel Gaztambide, Clotilde de Maria Elvira, Corpus Domaica, Geanalyn Carcueva; Ghana: Josefa Hernandez, Georgina Donzing, Iwona Olesinska Liberia: Sagrario.San Martin.

Sister invited to the Provincial Chapter: Cecilia Eshun from Ghana.

November 6, 2012

The day was dedicated to the spiritual retreat. We were accompanied by Fr. John Dixon, SDB. In his talk he enlightened the text of Lk 10.1- 20, emphasised the 72 disciples sent two by two and the call to shared mission. He also stressed the importance of returning to the roots and to the Gospel in our revitalisation process. Afterwards we celebrated the Eucharist with the Hospitaller spirit. The day of reflection / prayer ended with a prolonged Eucharistic Adoration.

At dinner time Sister Anabela Carneiro, Superior General, Sister Andrea Calvo, General Councillor and Sr. Victoria Gonzalez de Castejon (from the Congregation of the Sacred Heart) arrived.

Opening of the Chapter

At 7pm we met at the Chapter hall. Sister Maria Lourdes Sanz, Provincial Superior welcomed Sister Anabela Carneiro, Sister Andrea Calvo and Sister Victoria Gonzalez de Castejon, Facilitator of the Chapter and all the participating sisters.

The Superior General then gave a welcoming address extending it to each sister in the Province in her concrete reality. In the message addressed to the Assembly she invited us to proclaim the Kingdom of God to the recipients of our mission referring to the text of Luke: 'Go ... I send you, heal the sick and tell them that the Kingdom of God is at hand ...' completing her enlightenment she declared the XX Provincial Chapter open.

Sister Ana Maria Oroz and Sister Pilar Garcia read the Rules of the Chapter which were approved after brief clarifications. Sister Maria Begoña Perez was elected Secretary of the Chapter.

Once the session was concluded we read the messages sent from various provinces of the Congregation. After the joyful fraternal gathering we ended the day with the song to Our Mother Mary.

November 7th 2012

We started the day with the morning prayer with charismatic spirit.

The work of the assembly commenced with the presentation of the Memory of Sexenium which contains three fundamental aspects:

1. The Congregation: persons and works
2. The Congregation: life and mission
3. The Congregation: goods and resources

The coordinator gave us guidelines to study the Sexenium Report with the method of discerning communities. During the work of discernment we highlighted the positive aspects, negative aspects, and challenges. This was the subject of a prolonged dialogue during the sharing.

The Report highlights the intercultural richness of the communities in England and Africa.

Encouraging aspects: accreditation of the centres, good quality care, ongoing maintenance of the structures and extensions of the services especially in Africa.

In the afternoon we studied the economic part of the report using the same method.

We acknowledged and expressed our gratitude for the solidarity of various NGOs and foundations, especially the Foundation of Benito Menni for financing many of our projects especially in Africa.

The assembly expressed gratitude to the Provincial Government for the information of the Sexenium Report, fostering the life and mission of the Province.

We then read the messages that we received from some of our Provinces.

We ended the day with the celebration of Vespers and Eucharist.

November 8th and 9th, 2012

Study of Paths 1,2,3

The third day of the chapter started with the prayer of Lauds and Eucharist.

We met in the chapter hall at 9am to study the Pre-capitular Document. Sister Andrea Calvo, General Councillor, in her presentation reminded us of the paths and lines of the XX General Chapter document to help us to implement it in the reality of our province.

The coordinator gave us guidelines to work on Paths 1,2,3 motivating us to establish the operational objectives for each line making sure they are creative, revitalizing and realistic.

Each discernment community worked on one 'Path' and in the afternoon there was a debate on each objective, enriching them with new contributions.

Study of the paths 4 and 5

On the fourth day we studied paths 4 and 5 of shared mission.

We started the day with a prayer of Lauds in special communion with the Roman Church on the feast of the Basilica of St. John Lateran.

At 9.30 we started the session with the following co-workers:

Nicki Redmond - Provincial Office
Zoe Shereni - Provincial Office
Nazima Choudhury - London
Mrika Galica - London
Christine Hodgkiss - Shenstone
Pauline Jones - Shenstone
Carole Bolton - Addlestone
Louise Connor - Addlestone

At the beginning of the session Sister Lourdes Sanz, Provincial Superior gave guidelines to the co-workers presenting the synthesis of XX General Chapter document and explained the concept and objectives of the Provincial Chapter.

In her welcoming address to the co-workers, Sister Lourdes Sanz, appreciated the presence of co-workers stressing the importance of joining us in this Chapter of the English Province and to participate in the establishment of operational objectives for the next six years.

Sister Lourdes also commented that the work we are doing would be incomplete without their participation and contributions and there is a need to explore the richness of the gift of hospitality that we assume as a common project.

The Superior General, in her message to the co-workers, emphasized the integration of the sisters and co-workers in a shared mission to think together, plan together and decide together on the future of the English Province over the next sexenium.

In her commentary on the 'Paths' of shared mission she said that 'Path' 4: 'Creatively taking on the mission as a common project' we focus on the essence of the hospitaller project where the patient is the reason for our existence and unifying element of our institution. Path 5: 'To make the good news visible in the world of mental suffering' she said, places us face to face with the reality of human suffering in today's world from the experience of the love of Jesus the Good Samaritan which was practiced by our founders .

She encouraged the co-workers to recreate, together with the sisters, hospitality, with courage and wisdom, and she appreciated their presence and commitment to the hospitaller mission.

Afterwords we worked together with the co-workers on 'Paths 4 and 5 in discernment communities, contributing from our experiences of living the hospitaller mission in our centres present in the realities of Africa and Europe.

In the afternoon, sharing was participative and enriching in the sense of mutual appreciation of the gift of charisma and commitment to nourish it and pass it on to the recipients of our mission. Before concluding the meeting, the Provincial Superior read a letter where she expressed her gratitude to the co-workers for their dedication and support in carrying out the hospitaller mission in our Province.

She said goodbye with hope that they will continue giving the same support to the new Provincial Superior and government.

We ended the day with the Eucharist with liturgy prepared with the joyful style of Ghanaian culture

At 8pm we met to review the formulation of the operational objectives of the 'Paths 4 and 5, as a result of the work done with collaborators.

Sisters as well as co-workers found that it was a very positive and rewarding experience.

November 10th , 2012

At the beginning of the 5th day of the XX Provincial Chapter we praised the Lord with Lauds animated by the sisters of the community of London.

In the morning session of the assembly we reviewed the operational objectives of the Paths 1, 2, 3 improving its wording and unifying contributions.

During the last sessions, the superior Provincial, Sr Lourdes Sanz, gave us information concerning projects at hand and after a brief orientation we proceeded to discern some of them with the vision of future.

At 7pm we had Vespers and Eucharist in thanksgiving to God for the generous and dedicated service of the Provincial Government during the sexenium.

Afterwards we enjoyed a fraternal encounter in an intercultural closure. We appreciated the valuable presence and help of Sr. Victoria Gonzalez de Castejon, the XX Chapter facilitator, and we said goodbye to her.

In the final session, the Superior General, Sr Anabela Carneiro, gave us guidance for the process of discernment to elect the Provincial Superior and Councillors.

We ended the day thanking the Lord for the gift of vocation through the intercession of Mary.

November 11th, 2012

Election Day of the Provincial Superior and the Councillors.

On Sunday, the feast of the Lord, we began with the solemn prayer of Lauds.

We continued the day in the spirit of recollection and prayer. At 8.45 am we met in the chapter hall where Sister Anabela Carneiro, Superior General, explained in detail, the steps to elect the sisters in the light of the functions, competences and responses to the actual challenges of our Province. To elect whom God wants and whom God calls to perform this mission.

Before the election, Sister Lourdes Sanz, Provincial Superior, presentedthe seal of the Province to Sister Anabela Carneiro, Provincial Chapter President. In her message she thanked God for the strength and light received from Him. To the sisters of the Provincial Government she expressed her gratitude for their support and co-responsibility in the animation of the Province over the six years. She also appreciated the support of the General Government and collaboration of all members of the hospitaller community especially the commitment and dedication of the sisters.

Sister Anabela Carneiro thanked the Provincial Government for the animated service rendered to the Province and their availability to meet the demands from the General Government.

The discerning attitude helped us to elect in the spirit of love and truth, the following sisters who form the new Provincial Government:

Sister Maria Begonia Perez - Superior Provincial
Sister Maria Isabel Canton - Vicar Provincial and First Councillor
Sister Maria Josefa Hernandez - Second Provincial Councillor

The Assembly welcomed their availability for the service entrusted and congratulated them with a fraternal embrace. To Sister Pilar Garcia, second councillor who ceases in her post, we thanked her for her dedication to the mission accomplished and we wished her openness to God's will in her new mandate.

To Sister Encarnacion Aguayo, Provincial Bursar and Sister Ana Maria Oroz, Provincial Secretary, we thanked them for their generous and selfless service to the Province and we wished them confidence and encouragement for what God has for them.

In the Eucharist we offered to the Lord the sisters who cease in their posts, and the new government. We asked Him to welcome their humbleness and do great things in them, making them faithful instruments to recreate hospitality, facing the actual challenges the province with courage, docility, faith and trust with the example of Mary the first hospitaller. In communion with all the sisters of the Province and Congregation we celebrate the election of the new Council in a spirit of joy and fraternity.