A Special and Grace Filled Time:
2010 General Chapter of the Sisters of the Poor of St. Francis
in Aachen, Germany
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 SPSF Leadership: Sr. Juliane Maria, Sr. Claudia, Sr. Katharina Maria, Sr. Dolores |
 General Chapter participants at the Mother House in Aachen |
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| Father Greg Pierk,
SVD, and Sister Helena Paula |
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With great joy and thanksgiving I welcomed the invitation from our Congregational Minister, Sr. Tiziana Merletti and the Council to participate in the 2010 General Chapter of our Sisters of the Poor of St. Francis, which took place in Aachen, the origin of our charism.
It was truly a special gift from God to return to the font of our Congregation. I thank our Sisters in Aachen, especially Sister Katharina Maria Finken, the Superior General and Council, and all the Sisters and helpers for their warm welcome.
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I am grateful for the opportunity I had to participate as a listener. I was welcome to contribute ideas and suggestions in small group discussions and even in the plenary sessions.
For me it was a time of grace and for a deeper encounter with God. The Chapter theme invited us to enter our innermost self: “The time has come, The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” [Mark 1: 15]. This verse moved me to reflect on the time of fulfillment. Christ is present. The time of waiting came to an end. Christ offers us the key to enter his kingdom, in the first words of his announcement in public: “Convert yourselves and believe in the Gospel.”
During our retreat, Brother Lukas Jünemann, CFP, told us: “In these dynamic times, we must live in the present. This is a time for action. The kingdom is that great love God has for us, which causes a radical transformation in our lives. And this has to happen now, in the present moment. We cannot leave it for later on...” The input from Brother Lukas was based upon the Chapter theme. This retreat greatly contributed to keeping us alert and in a prayerful atmosphere throughout the Chapter proceedings.
Each day in between the sessions and at the end of the daily activities, we gathered together in the Chapel by the feet of our Lord, next to the tomb of Mother Frances, seeking in this intimacy the wisdom and right discernment to know and accept in peace and serenity God’s will in all decisions.
I also thank Divine Providence for the presence of Father Georg Pierk, SVD, who lived in Brazil for 33 years. He stayed by my side clearly and expressively interpreting simultaneously into Portuguese. To him, my most sincere thanks!
Thanks once more Sister Tiziana and Council for this unique opportunity to manifest our spirit of unity with our Sisters of the Poor of St. Francis during this special and grace filled time.
Fraternally, in Mother Frances,
Sister Helena Paula Carvalho