This is the motto chosen for this year. It is based on the premise that our world is wounded and that there are many faces of suffering. We are therefore challenged to live and carry out hospitality based on our identity and our values, responding to today’s challenges with the same boldness and creativity that inspired our Founders.
The General Chapter is the body that represents the Congregation and exercises authority in a collective manner in matters related to our life and mission. It is held every 6 years, convened by the Superior and in obedience to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
To prepare for the event we can do several things at community level.
CLOTHED WITH GARMENTS OF MERCY (Col. 3:12)
The Motto of the General Chapter
The logo is made up of the cross of Christ, a hug, the world/human being, a road and stars. Essentially, it has three colors: gray, burgundy and green, the institutional colors.
The Cross of Christ – sign of divine mercy; expression of the love that saves, given unconditionally; theological place where mercy is born and where we clothe ourselves in it. The cross is an open space of encounter with the love that vivifies us; From it springs life, love, and hope, it welcomes everyone and in it each one can recognize themselves as loved and saved in the infinite mercy of the Father.
The gray color of the cross symbolizes the encounter between the greatest luminosity (God) and the greatest fragility (humanity). In itself, the color gray expresses peace, tranquility, balance, simplicity, delicacy, elegance… (dimensions that also characterize Hospitality)
Hug – in the center of the cross an embrace is born: Christ embraces humanity, the hospitable charisma is also called to embrace each human being in their situation of suffering; a universal embrace of the world, especially the most fragile and excluded; It is in the embrace of the merciful Christ that the embrace of Hospitality finds meaning; a hug that covers us with mercy and transforms us into instruments of that same mercy.
The Path – without beginning or end. It is the path of dedication and service, in an attitude of departure, that is followed by all those who allow themselves to be led by the Spirit. It challenges us to live walking the paths of humanity, being a close presence to God – paths of visitation. Always a missionary path…
And the stars on the path symbolize that the hospitality charisma must be a presence that brings hope, stars that shine, today as yesterday, being the light of good and life in the midst of the darkness of illness and suffering.