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NEWS/EVENTS
Issue 1

This year 2001,we had our six-yearly General Chapter in Belgium. Delegates from all over the world were there to look at the past, present and future of our Congregation and to decide on the way forward

The Chapter itself, which lasted nearly five weeks, was centred round choices which we had made in the different provinces. We ask your prayers for our fidelity to those choices, which are: the Word of God and Eucharist, vocations work, partnership and collaboration, internationality, evangelisation, non-violence and different models of membership and association.

We had the joy of setting up two new provinces (Rwanda and Congo/Cameroun) and a vice-province (Brazil) out of what were the four regions of Africa-Brazil.

Specific prayer intentions would include the new English-speaking mission in Malawi, founded from the province of Rwanda. Two Sisters are working there with refugees, as employees of the Jesuit Refugee Service. They would really appreciate your prayer as they try to do their best for desperate people. Another three Sisters of that province have gone back within the last few weeks to a house in Mubuga which had to be closed following the genocide of 1994, so that is a moment of "homecoming" but a big step as there is much work to do there to renew old acquaintances and build up confidence.

The new province of Congo/Cameroun has been dogged with bad luck in terms of Sisters falling ill or dying at short notice. However, they continue to attract, especially in Congo, aspirants and postulants, and there is a steady trickle of young Sisters making their profession. In Cameroun there is a whole vocations project underway in Jakiri, the English-speaking mission founded a couple of years ago. It is hard work as the Sisters are starting from scratch in that area, but thanks largely to your prayers their efforts are bearing fruit.

In the vice-province of Brazil, vocations are plentiful but - as in the African countries - resources are limited. The Sisters are immensely creative with what they have, and some of their programmes for those in formation are excellent. Even if in some cases the girls do not stay with us, there is a real mission going on in forming them for Christian living on all levels. Please pray for these Sisters as they embark on discernment retreats for those in early formation and dream up new apostolic projects in the service of the radically poor.

Our choice for "Non-Violence" at the General Chapter has taken on a new poignancy following the tragic events of 11 September and later. This is especially true for our Sisters in Buffalo, New York, which is the largest of our provinces. The Sisters in Texas, who initiated the focus on non-violence a few years ago, have started many initiatives in connection with this: prayer, peaceful protests, committees. The Sisters have made quite an impact in the diocese of Fort Worth. Let's pray that this higher profile, plus the Texan Sisters' very focussed vocations ministry through their Website and 'Come and See' weekends might bring in a few more vocations

The International Novitiate in Belgium is still going on, and there are five novices, including one from Britain.

Sr Judith Carroll from Buffalo was elected General Superior, Sr Marie Julianne having completed her two terms of office. Please pray for Sr Judith and her new team: Sr Jean-Benoît (Belgium/Rwanda), Sr Gabriela (Texas), Sr Joan Marshall (Britain/Brazil) and Sr Marie-Françoise (Belgium).