On the way to the XXXI General Chapter, we, the Adorers, Handmaids of the Blessed Sacrament and of Charity, have been holding Provincial Conferences during this month of June 2023.

These meetings constitute a further step in the Chapter journey, seeking the means to achieve our goal of making the dream a reality, and thus being able to bring our proposals to the General Chapter. Thus, a broad representation of sisters and lay people from each province have gathered in provincial conferences for this purpose.

The XXXI General Chapter of the Congregation of the Adorers, with the theme “Living communities walking in hope, open to the Spirit, aware of reality to embrace it as it is, caring for life, joyful in mission”, will begin on September 18, 2023 and end on October 13 of the same year in Guadalajara, Spain.

Province of Europe-Africa

The Adorers of the Province of Europe-Africa were the first to hold their Provincial Conference on June 1, 2 and 3 in Guadalajara, Spain.

On their website they have reported that a large representation of the sisters of this Province met looking for the means to achieve the congregational goal of making the dream a reality and thus being able to bring their proposals to the General Chapter.

They have also shared this video with some important moments of this meeting:

Province of America

In the Province of America, due to its great extension, the Provincial Conference was held virtually in three days, from 7 to 9 June 2023. In the first of these, a significant group of Laywomen and Laymen (12), engaged in shared mission, were called together “with the aim of enriching the discernment with the experience of those who share with us more closely the mission in different communities and projects of our extensive province of America”, indicates the Provincial Superior, Sister Gabriela Valot.

Thus “Sisters, lay women and men, called by the Spirit, are invited in this pre-capitular stage, to seek together the best for the Congregation and for the areas in which we are present, bringing to life the charism of Adorar Liberar; to discover the ways in which this divine Spirit acts and moves us to act, being from our fragility instruments to make the Kingdom present”.

The Provincial Superior also pointed out that these Provincial Conversations serve “to be able, in synodality, animated by the Spirit, to reflect and discern the calls or provocations with the respective aspects to which to pay attention in order to bring them to life”.

Kolkata Province

25 sisters of the Kolkata  Province, India, gathered for the celebration of the Provincial Conference, 9-11 June 2023, at the Provincial House in Kolkata.

Lissiamma Joseph, Provincial Superior, welcomed everyone and indicated that the first day was dedicated to precapitular work, the third level of conversation, and the laity engaged in shared mission. Sunaina Sebastian Domnic and Saroj Sukla, both laywomen, participated online from Odisha.

Thus, the aim of the first day was to enhance discernment by incorporating the experience of those who share closely in the mission and also to celebrate and ritualize the journey so far, through meaningful signs, gestures and verses from the Word of God. It was a celebration of the transition from Local to Zonal and from Zonal to Provincial to global institution level.

The second day of the Conference was marked by different themes and the new draft of the Directory was studied in depth.

The third day was mainly devoted to evaluating the life and mission of the Province and to making proposals for the General Chapter. At the end of this day, the group discussed different concerns of the Province and the Superior General received the suggestions of the Sisters.

Delegation of Japan

The Assembly of the Delegation of Japan took place from 11 to 14 June in Kitami, the curia house in Tokyo, Japan.

Sr. Teresa Valenzuela, Superior General, and Sr. Micaela Tanigaichi, General Consultor, came from Rome to participate in this Assembly. Sisters also came from different parts of Japan, Vietnam and Cambodia, countries that are part of the Delegation of Japan, making it an intercultural space with three languages.

At the beginning of the Assembly, Sr. Teresa led the reflection on the process of the Delegation of Japan. Throughout this meeting they tried to make each one feel “HOME TOGETHER” and moved forward together towards the 31st General Chapter.

Mumbai Province

Lastly, the Mumbai Province held the Provincial Conference from 19-22 June 2023, at the Provincial House in Mumbai. Twenty-eight sisters participated in the Conference.

Both at the Eucharistic celebration and in the Conference Hall, the banner with the logo and motto of the XXI General Chapter was symbolically displayed in order to remember it and keep it in mind and heart.

Sr. Lissiamma Thuruthikara, Provincial Superior, addressed the participants, welcoming each one warmly. She conveyed to them the beautiful message of the call to be witnesses to the beauty of our consecrated life rooted in Christ, given by all to the service of all and with endless hope.

The first day dealt with the congregational reality and the third stage of conversation at provincial level. Sr. Anita Nettikat, who led this session, highlighted the attitudes of recognition, positive thinking, caring for life, bringing joy to the mission and making the community alive.

The participants divided into groups to work on the strongest calls or invitations that were discovered, shared views and discussed the issues raised, coming to a fruitful conclusion in conversation.

The second day was devoted to working on the Directory and the third day to making proposals for the benefit of the Province and its members. Sr. Lissiamma presented the possible proposals sent by the communities.

In the second part of the day, the group presented the work done and, after considerable discussion and clarification, the proposals were finalized. The Provincial Superior thanked each member for their contribution.