As an Institute, we have lived a very intense fragment of time, 45 days to be exact, when 62 Chapter delegates representing more than 30 nations gathered in Rome to celebrate the XIV General Chapter. We were invited from the very beginning by M. Ilva to listen deeply to what the Spirit is saying to us today, Canossian Daughters of Charity, Servants of the poor, consecrated women called to tell the story of God's love to the women and men of our time… 

We felt at the same time the incessant prayerful support of the whole Canossian family and friends as we let Him lead us again to the freshness of the origin where our tiredness and our pain may find rest. The daily arrival of faxes and cards reminded us that we were not alone… the whole Institute was present in the Chapter hall! Thank you, Sisters, for praying and participating so intensely!

Ten full days were dedicated to Country reports; it was an exercise in listening to what God was able to accomplish through the 3000 Sisters spread out in the five continents, ministering in unconditional love, walking in Magdalene's footsteps. Insistently, the message came through… everywhere, irrespective of race or religion, we are called to live our consecration in a more radical way, as consecrated women with a mission to be lived together in an ever more radical way, in ever more varied cultural and religious contexts. 

In an attitude of family openness…

In an attitude of openness and desire to be faithful to the Spirit and to our Charism, we shared our little successes, struggles and hopes and celebrated the gift of internationality within our communities. As a multicultural Family, our strength lies in our ability to live unity in diversity and this was very evident as each of us made that daily personal effort to dialogue, be it in the Chapter hall, at table fellowship or at prayer. We truly can say we have been enriched by the gift of each of the sixty-two Capitular Sisters. 

There was an obvious feeling of being at home and at ease with each other. Our "veteran", Sr. Ita Fernandez from India, who has lived through 5 General Chapters, one morning recalled how she trembled as a young Chapter delegate more than 25 years ago! She remembered the "awesome, sober atmosphere" that prevailed… Everything was in Italian and she cannot recall what she reported!! Both she and Sr. Mariko (from Japan) would "support" each other in their "anxieties"… they avoided bumping into M. general; it was more than meeting the President! 

In this family atmosphere, every Sister felt free to speak and interact. While Sr. Concetta spoke strongly on our specific call to be real women, Sr. Estela helped the assembly to deepen the theme of Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation. It is a call to personal and communitarian conversion, to change our life-style and mentality through our conscious daily choices if we desire to strike at the causes that generate poverty. 

Be inculturated! 

Another very strong call was to inculturated our charism… As Jesus became one with us in human form, we realized the importance of assuming a life-style that is meaningful to the Church and to society today. It became very clear that we need to search creatively for ways to live out our Consecration, especially the Vows. Are we proud to tell the world that we belong to God alone and in the following of Jesus poor, obedient and chaste? Are we are in fact inviting and challenging young people to respond to the call of the Spirit, to be prophetic signs for a new humanity in a world that has lost that respect for life? 

Let us walk together… 

Dear Sisters, as I share these thoughts with you in the midst of assuming my new mandate as general Councillor in Rome, I pray that St. Magdalene our Mother and Foundress will grant us anew the joy of being authentic Canossians, mutually helping one another in our communities to be the best that God wants us to be and thereby "telling" the world the story of God's ever faithful love for each person, for every living creature, for his universe. 

Do pray that I may collaborate responsibly with Sr. Marie, Sr. Marisa, Sr. Margaret and Sr. Mariangela as we continue the mission of guaranteeing fidelity to the charism and the unity of the Institute in the process of inculturation. 

In union of hearts, 
Sr. Marilyn Lim