The Franciscan Sisters, TOR are in the throes of planning for their 4th General Chapter to be held in May and June of 2020. What is a General Chapter? Why is it important? How is it connected to the whole Church, and what does it have to do with me – a lay person in the pew? These are questions many of you may be asking, and they deserve to be answered.
In short, a General Chapter is kind of like a big family meeting or a papal conclave without the white smoke! It consists of a series of meetings in which representatives of a whole religious community come together to discuss the central aspects of their way of life, make big decisions, and elect new leadership of the community. Our community holds a General Chapter every six years, and the representatives, or delegates, are sisters who have made their perpetual profession (final vows) in our community.
The General Chapter is a time of renewal and an honest search for God’s will as we move into the future. Every religious community is founded with a unique gift for the Church and for the world; this gift is called a charism. So, in our meetings, we reflect upon how well we are living out aspects of our community charisms, as well as our Franciscan spirituality, and mission (how we make known God’s merciful love). We likewise consider ways to renew or deepen the way we live our call as Franciscan contemplative penitents committed to works of mercy. One example of a decision made at our General Chapter in 2014 is the adoption of a practice for our sisters to stop what they are doing at 3:00 pm to honor the Hour of Mercy, as encouraged by St. Faustina, by praying a Mercy Chaplet or a shorter prayer asking for God’ mercy for the world.
The General Chapter not only affects the religious community but also the whole Church and even the whole world, according to Cardinal Pironio in an article on General Chapters that appeared in L’Osservatore Romano, Sept. 16, 1976. In their deliberations, the Chapter delegates must keep in mind a question put forth by Cardinal Pironio, “‘What does God ask of us at this moment in the Church?’ This is the same as asking, ‘What do men and women ask of us today?’” In this way, all of the members of the Church are brought into a General Chapter; it is an event in and for the Church.
A General Chapter is not only about solving problems within the religious institute, it is also concerned about interpreting the signs of the times. Cardinal Pironio invites religious communities to ask questions like, “Who are the poor today? What does evangelization mean in the Church today?” God offers salvation to all people, but many have yet to be evangelized. Our community must also discern the role we have to play in the bringing the Gospel to the world today.
According to Cardinal Pironio, “all religious life is inserted in a concrete Christian community. [The religious community] is nourished by it [Christian community], grows within it and animates it.” We are part of the local diocese, the Diocese of Steubenville, Ohio. Therefore, this significant event in our local Church includes everyone! Our bishop, Bishop Jeffrey Monforton, will be presiding on the day we elect our new leadership. Some of our diocesan priests will be celebrating the daily Masses during our General Chapter, and we need all in the diocese to accompany the chapter with prayer and celebration, joy and hope, and the expectation of conversion and new life. With the interior renewal of a religious community, the Church is enriched spiritually and the world experiences the fruits.
As we seek the mind and heart of God in preparation for our 2020 General Chapter, we humbly ask for your support in prayer that our Chapter may be a deep work of the Holy Spirit and be life changing for us and for the whole Church.
Sr. Jean Daugherty, T.O.R.
