The Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary began the morning of July 9th with the Welcome Celebration of the General Chapter, centered on a reflection on listening, symbolized by a shell. The symbol is a reference to the act of listening with depth, reverence, and inner openness, not only to external sounds, but also to the murmurings of the Spirit and the call of God within each one.
Sisters Margaret Fielding, Institute Leader, and Maria Helena Morra, Brazil Area Leader, then welcomed the sisters.
“We are ‘called to share in the life-giving mission of Jesus Christ’ (MS), and we have an invaluable and unique contribution to make in realizing God’s dream for today’s world.
We therefore ask the Holy Spirit for an abundance of hope during this Chapter, prophetic hope, that which gives us the courage to listen deeply to the promptings of the Spirit in the calls that arise throughout this Chapter. Hope that encourages us to risk the new, to take the first step on the path that God is opening up for us at this moment in our history.” Sister Margaret Fielding, Institute Leader.
Read Sister Margaret Fielding’s welcome here and Sister Maria Helena Morra’s words here.
The Delegates are on Retreat until 12 June, when we will have the Rite of Opening of the Chapter.
