Chapter

The Congregation of the Holy Family of Nazareth has existed for nearly 131 years. During this time there have been twenty-one General Chapters. The assembly that began in Rome on June 29, 2006 is the twenty-second. That statistic alone suggests that a General Chapter is an extraordinary event in the life of a congregation. The General Chapter is a visible expression of a fundamental sense of democracy that is based on the radical equality of all the members by virtue of their baptism and their religious consecration, hence their common vocation to be prophets or spokespersons for God. The participants in the General Chapter gather in the name of Jesus Christ, confident that his Spirit will help us to accomplish our work.

The theme is Nazareth's Mission: Are not our hearts on fire? The expected outcomes of the chapter are:

1) a clearly defined and articulated Mission Statement;

2) a general assessment of our current ministries in light of our Mission and the needs of the Church;

3) a clear prioritization of Mission opportunities and

4) a process by which delegates to future General Chapters will be determined, so that the diverse voices across the congregation to be represented and heard.

My heart is ready, O Lord, my heart is ready.

Great and Glorious God, You choose to dwell among us; may we know your presence here. Make our hearts burn with a passion for our Nazareth Mission as we strive to be and live its message.

We ask you, O Holy Spirit, to transform our timidity into conviction, our desire into action, our embers into fire. Make us faithful women with an enduring passion for our Emmanuel-God, the earth, and its people. Amen.

From the Prayers of the Opening Liturgy

Asking for prayer

We realize that the General Charter is a significant event not only for our Congregation, but also for the Church, because the gifts that we receive from the Holy Spirit are allocated for all people. There fore, we kindly ask all of you, Dear Internet Surfers, Readers and Friends of our Congregation to support us with your prayer during the General Chapter so that it could inspire us to continue our Mission in Church and the world in the Third Millennium.

From the Constitutions "Covenant of Love", the General Chapter:

7.49 The general chapter is a representative gathering of the entire Congregation. As the highest legislative body, it exercises its authority collegially. The primary purpose is to engage the members in a communal search for the Will of God.

The responsibilities of the general chapter are:

a. to call us to deepen our vowed commitment and make a more authentic response to the Gospel;

b. to review congregational reports from the superior general, secretary general and treasurer general;

c. to assess the Congregation and plan for the future in relation to the changing needs of the Church in the world;

d. to deliberate on proposals and issues and to communicate the decision to the Congregation;

e. to amend the Constitutions by a two-thirds majority vote for presentation to the Apostolic See; to amend the Statutes by a relative majority vote;

f. to determine the number of councilors and to elect the general administration;

g. to elect the superior general with a two-thirds majority of secret votes.

7.50 For serious reasons the superior general may convoke an extraordinary general chapter with the consent of the council.

7.51 The following constitutes the membership of a general chapter:

a. ex-officio members: the general administration, the provincial superiors, and the former superiors general.

b. elected members: the delegates elected from every province and region according to the policies for the designation of leadership. The number of elected members is always greater than the number of ex-officio members.

From the Statutes, Membership of the General Chapter:

7.51.1 Delegates to the general chapter are sisters who are actively involved in the life of the province, are aware of the changing needs of the Church and the world, have the courage to articulate their convictions, yet can listen openly to varying opinions on matters of vital concern.

S i s t e r s o f t h e H o l y F a m i l y o f N a z a r e t h

Via Nazareth, 400 00166 Rome, Italy Tel (+39) 06.624.0929 Fax (+39) 06.624.1295 Email: info@generalate.org
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