Sisters of Charity of Australia - 26th General Chapter

Our 26th General Chapter will be held at St Joseph’s Spirituality Centre Baulkham Hills from 29th September to 10th October.

We ask for your prayers as we prepare for this significant event in the life of our congregation.

The following excerpts are taken from the letter of convocation of the 26th General Chapter sent to the congregation on 29 September 2007, the feast of St Michael the Archangel

With deep faith in the Providence of God, trust in the Holy Spirit and empowered by the charism of Mary Aikenhead I formally convoke the 26th General Chapter of the Sisters of Charity of Australia to be held one year from now.

The months ahead will involve us all in prayerful preparation for what our Constitutions describe as

“…the renewal and development of the Congregation, leading to greater unity and a more effective adaptation of our apostolic works to contemporary needs in fidelity to the Gospel and the charism of Mary Aikenhead.”

(Constitutions #73)

The 26th General Chapter comes at a stage in the history of the Congregation which is hallmarked by organisational complexity within our apostolic works, remarkable contributions to the well-being of society in health and aged care, research, community care (welfare) and education and by the faithful generosity of each sister in the  ministry in which she is engaged.

Urged on  by the love of Christ, our call is to use the Chapter and this year of preparation to refine and rekindle our identity, our communio, our community living, our ministries and our voice for the poor as Sisters of Charity of Australia today in the context of a 21st Century church and world.

The formalities of the General Chapter will take place from 29 September to 10 October 2008 inclusive and will be the climax of each sister’s reflection, prayer, dialogue and discernment. Together we will respond to what God is asking of us in the reality of our current situation.

The 26th General Chapter of the Congregation will be a challenging undertaking for us all.  However, it will ensure the next era of our contribution to the mission of God, to the church and to the world will be authentically discerned.

I invite all of you, our friends and colleagues, to pray with and for us as we prepare for this significant event in the life of our congregation and of the church.

Elizabeth Dodds rsc
Congregational Leader

Chapter Prayer

“Cease dwelling on days gone by and brooding over past events!
Look! Here and now I am doing something new;
at any moment it will break from the bud. Can you not see it?” Is 43:18-19(a)

God our Provider,
we give thanks for your creative power
which we have witnessed at work in the history of our congregation.
We have seen your hand at work in our ongoing journey and
in the inspiration of sisters who have paved the way.
We acknowledge the dedication of those who minister with us.

As we approach our 26th General Chapter, enable us once more
to move forward confidently in the spirit of Mary Aikenhead.

Be with us as we commit our energy, our wisdom and our love
in discerning the new and emerging ways in which
you are calling us to service of the poor.
We pray this through our God who strengthens and empowers us. Amen.