History of general chapters

Article Index

"Since the beginning of Congregation Assemblies have been held in which the Sisters could participate by in the different decisions of the Community.

There were several Kinds of Assemblies: those which dealt with important business; which legal documents show well, those which dealt with the admission of novices (Regl. XIV), exceptional Assemblies calling the Sisters together (for example, the one which approved the “Reglements” in 1738) and those which preceded elections. The assemblies of election, later called General Chapters, kept the same norms from 1738 to 1887, date on which the Congregation became of Pontifical right, and adopted a new form of legislation.

The general Chapters were held every three years until the French Revolution. From 1803 (Reconstitution of the Congregation) to 1887, the frequency remained at every three years (this rhythm was interrupted by revolutions and wars, for example in 1870). Then it was every six years from 1887- 1971 (except during the World Wars). The special General Chapter of 1969 modifies this rhythm which changed from every six years to every four years (1971-1975-1979) The General Chapter of 1979 fixed a period of every five years which is still in force today." (Information and Communication Service 2004 - n. 3)

By Sr. Maria Escayola


 1762-1821

Place

Date

Presided by

Election - votes

Capitulars

 

1

Sainville

1762

21 November

 

Mère La Croix

Death 05-16-1801

 

Election of 2 councilors:

Sr. Ascensión, Sr. Rose Marie.

2

Janville

1803

21 November

Monsieur Granger

Mère Augustin    11/16

8 presents

8 post

Reconstitution.

Assistant: Sr. Laurent, 13/16

3

Janville

1807

3 june

Mons. Charrier de la Roche, Bishop of Versailles

Reelection of

M. Augustin     10/11

Death 08-11-1809

11

The Bishop postponed it from 1806 to 1807, because he wanted to preside it.

Sr. Xavier was the acting superior.

4

Janville

1809

16 september

Day 18 election

Day 20 appointment

Monsieur Evette, priest and delegate of the bishop of Versailles

Mère Potentienne     8/13

Started her generalate on November 1809

11 presents

5 post

+1 deceased

Superior: 2 votes

1st scrutiny without majority

2nd scrutiny over13.

Election of the Assistant: Sr. St. François and Mistress of Novices (Sr. Chantal?)

5

 

1810

Chapter for the study of Economic Matters  

Palais des Tuileries

1811, 19 January

                                        DECREE OF NAPOLEÓN

 

 

Approval of the Statutes of the Community, Dominican Sisters of Charity of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin of Janville

Art. 3: 1 Superior General named every 3 years by plurality of votes, helped by 1 Assistant, 1 Mistress of Novices, 1 Treasurer and 3 Councilors.

6

Janville

1812,

14 september

Monsieur Evette, priest and delegate of the bishop of Versailles

Reelection of

M. Potentienne     19/23

14 presents

9 post

Assistant: Sr. Miséricorde.

Mistress of Novices: Sr. Chantal  (Sr. Pelagie).

7

Tours

La Riche

1816,

16 september

Monsieur Danicourt

Mère Adelaïde

 

Assistant: Sr. Miséricorde

Mistress of Novices: Sr. Du Calvaire

Treasurer: Sr. Saint-François

8

Tours

La Riche

1819, 18 october

Monsieur Danicourt

Reelection of 

M. Adelaïde

Resignation: september 1821

 

Assistant: Sr. Miséricorde.

Mistress of Novices: Sr. Du Calvaire.

Councilors: Sr. Pélagie and Sr. Scholastique.

9

Tours

La Riche

1821, 15 october

Monsieur Danicourt

Mère Suzanne

23

Mistress of Novices: Sr. Assomption.

  

 


  

 1824-1843

Place

Date

Presided by

Election - votes

Capitulars

 

10

Tours

La Riche

1824

19 october

Mons. l'Abbé Jean Christophe Fustier, superior

Mère Assomption

 

 

Assistant and Treasurer: Sr. Théodore

Mistress of Novices and Secretary: Sr, Séraphie

Councilors: Sr. Octavie, Sr. Des Anges, Gertrude, Providence

11

Tours

La Riche

1827

14 november

Mons. l’Abbé Jean Christophe Fustier, superior

Reelection of

M. Assomption

 

Assistant: Sr. Octavie

Treasurer: Sr. Savine

Mistress of Novices and Secretary: Sr. Séraphie

 

 

1830

There was no election due to difficulties in the country

12

Tours

La Riche

1833

30 september

Mons. l’Abbé Jean Christophe Fustier, superior

Reelection of

M. Assomption

 

Had to have in 1830 but postponed due to the Revolution and the cholera epidemy.

Assistant: Sr. Séraphie

Mistress of Novices: Sr. Emmanuel

Treasurer: Sr. Dorothée

Councilors: Sr. Du Calvaire, Pélagie, Octavie + Councilor honorary: Sr. Constance

13

Tours

La Riche

1837

 

25 september

Mons. Edme-François Bruchet

Reelection of

M. Assomption

Presents

Post

Se retrasó un año

Assistant: Sr. Séraphie

Mistress of Novices: Sr. Providence

Treasurer: Sr. Saint Rémy (Sr. Geneviève)

Councilors: Sr. Pélagie, Octavie, Gertrude

14

Tours

La Riche

1840

 

12 october

Mons. Edme-François Bruchet

Reelection of

M. Assomption

 

Assistant: Sr. Séraphie

Mistress of Novices: Sr. Providence

Treasurer: Sr. Prosper

Councilors: Sr. Octavie, Gertrude, Colombe

15

Tours

La Riche

1843

 

09 october

Mons. Morlot, archbishop of Tours, assisted by Mr. Edme-François Bruchet, superior and Mr. Guyonner, Chaplain of the Mother House

 

Mère Saint Pierre

Needed 4 turns to reach the majority

 

Abolition of vote by post

All the Capitulars were present

Preceded by a retreat of 8 days

Elected the Superior general and the Assistant: Sr. Emmanuelle

The Mistress of the Novices, Treasurer and 3 Councilors were chosen by the Superior; the Superior general and the Assistant elected. Only changed the Treasurer: Sr. Albertine

 


 

 1856-1949

Place

Date

Election

16

Tours

1846

02 october

Reelection of M. Saint Pierre

17

Tours

1849

29 september

Reelection of M. Saint Pierre

18

Tours

1852

13 september

Reelection of M. Saint Pierre

19

Tours

1855

06 october

Reelection of M. Saint Pierre

20

Tours

1858

14 september

 

Mère du Calvaire

21

Tours

La Riche

1861

09 september

Reelection of M. du Calvaire

22

Tours

1864

13 september

Reelection of M. du Calvaire

23

Tours

1867

19 september

Reelection of M. du Calvaire

24

Tours

1872

19 july

Reelection of M. du Calvaire

25

Tours

1875

24 june

Reelection of M. du Calvaire

26

Tours

1878

03 october

Relection of M. du Calvaire

27

Tours

1881

29 april

Reelection of M. du Calvaire

28

Tours

1884

05 july

Reelection of M. du Calvaire

29

Tours

1887

06-08 september

Reelection of M. du Calvaire

30

Tours

1888

10 april

Mère Josepha

31

Tours

1894

03-10 april

 

Reelection of M. Josepha

Elections and retreat

32

Tours

1900

18-25 april

Reelection of M. Josepha

33

Tours

1906

11-18 july

Reelection of M. Josepha

34

Tours

1912

19-26 june

Reelection of M. Josepha

35

Tours

1919

01-08 july

Reelection of M. Josepha

36

Tours

1921

17-02 may

Mère Leon Joseph

37

Tours

1927

06-13 june

Reelection of M. Leon Joseph

38

Tours

1933

07-08 july

Reelection of M. Leon Joseph

39

Tours

1939

21-24 may

Mère Thérèse Augusta

40

Tours

1947

21-24 may

Reelection of M. Thérèse Augusta

41

Tours

1953

04-13 may

Reelection of M. Thérèse Augusta

42

Tours

1959

15-18 may

Mère Thérèse des Anges

 


  

 1965-2024

Place

Date

Election

Capitulars

Theme

43

Roma

1965

21 may-

02 june

Reelection of M. Thérèse des Anges

36

Our place in the Church

44

Roma

1969

24 april-

23 july

Special General Chapter

(not elective)

64

Special Chapter of “aggiornamento”

45

Tours

1971

07 april-

11 june          

Mère Marie Ste. Thérèse

69

Draft of the Constitutions

46

Roma

1975

25 may-

06 july

Reelection of Mère Marie Ste. Thérèse

68

Searching for unity in the process of our renewal

47

Roma

1979

05 july-

29 august

Sr. Inés Mercedes Mejía Toro

70

Approval of the Constitutions

48

Bucaramanga

1984

09 july-

20 august

Reelection of Sr. Inés Mercedes Mejía Toro

65

In view of an Evangelical Renewal

49

Tours

1989

23 july-

31 august

Postulation of Sr. Inés Mercedes Mejía Toro

72

The Project of Marie Poussepin, a project for today

50

Roma

Monte Cucco

1994

14 october -

15 novembrer

Sr. María Fabiola Velásquez Maya

64

Beatification of Marie Poussepin

Marie Poussepin, Social Apostle of Charity

51

Tours

1999

19 july-

28 august

Reelection of Sr. María Fabiola V.

69

Convoked to live Dominican Life, The Mission of Third Millennium

52

Tours

2004

18 july-

24 august

Sr. Monique Colrat

72

The Congregation in front of her future

53

Tours

2009

17 july-

21 august

Reelection of Sr. Monique Corat

66

Life of the Sisters: Praise, Bless, Preach

54

 

Tours

2014

13 july-

12 august

Sr. Maria Escayola Coris

64

Now is the favorable time…

55

Bucaramanga

2019

12 july-

08 august

 Reelection of Sr. Maria Escayola Coris

67

Sent to transcend the frontiers to revitalize the life and the mission

56

Tours

2024

11 july-

08 august

56

Together to transform our life and mission