Capítulo General 2024

La Grande Bretèche (Tours), 08/08/2024, Sr. Gemma Morató i Sendra and Sr. Conchi García Fernández - www.domipresen.com.- Feast of Saint Dominic, a day of closure, of joy for what has been experienced and farewells to new and old friends.

We started with solemn Lauds and in Dominican habit, then we took the official photo at the chapel door, a good memory for all of us from this 56th General Chapter. A delicious French croissant awaited us before entering the chapter hall for the closure.

In the hall, singing the “Veni Creator”, we embarked on the final stretch of this chapter with the motto “Together, to transform our life and mission.”

Sister Mariamma Paul, prioress general, proceeded to read the closure with a beautiful text full of hope and gratitude. She expressed that the “presence of the Spirit has been evident among us” supported by so many sisters and friends. She emphasized that consensus was reached, fostering a spirit of unity. And therefore “the Charism is alive,” the hope is encouraging, the restructuring is no longer fear but a path of new life, of new encounters “to possibilities and innovative decisions,” and she introduced new faces in the Congregation.

 The closure text takes a tour of everything experienced this month, a chapter of grace, intercultural and rich in experiences that fills us with momentum. Now it is time to move forward and give life to the sisters and the mission, creating the future for the Congregation. We embark as pilgrims of hope in the Church facing the jubilee year 2025.

Sister Mariamma ends with thanks to everyone and for everything, and closes the 56th General Chapter asking that Dominic, Marie Poussepin, and the Virgin Mary “help us to share and form our sisters to participate in the experience of synodality, communion, and hope in the transformation process that we have lived these days as a gift of the Spirit.”

The Eucharist, broadcast on YouTube (you can watch it at this link), is a great thanksgiving on this significant feast for us. Several priests and sisters from different communities in France accompanied us.

The festive meal does not yet mark the final point, but at 3:30 pm we gathered in the chapel for the prayer of sending to our provinces and to read the decree where from today the vice-province of the Middle East becomes a region of the province of Europe.

This ending is a moment of blessing and emotion, and when it all ends there are heartfelt hugs full of love and gratitude for everything experienced. Happily, we will return to our provinces in a different way, hopefully, we know how to convey it.

And now, as we bid you farewell until another time, we hope you have enjoyed this website especially made for this 56th General Chapter. Blessings.

Video of the day

Group photos

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Photos of the day

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