Lyon Congregation Holds Intensive Meetings at the Centre

They came from Burkina Faso, Egypt, France, India, the Ivory Coast, Mexico, Lebanon, the USA, and by zoom from England and Ireland to meet with each other together for the first time since elected to 6-year terms of leadership in April of 2023. The Extended General Council (EGC) of the Congregation met in Le Puy on June 16-22. “It is the place of our ‘source’ and we
return to it for a week of Syodal prayer, sharing, listening, and conversations about how best to, ‘allow the unfolding of common directions in accordance with the guidelines of General Chapter, in a spirit of openness to the Church and the needs of each country’ (Const. 158 re the EGC), said Sr. Judy Donovan, Superior General.

Sisters Judy Donovan, Colette Soro, Vimala Alexandre, and Elizabeth Rangel Reyes (in absentia) are members of the General Counsel while Sisters Catherine Fromager, Lily Thockanattu, Marcelle Bochra, Juana Monteillo, Sophy Mattew, Colette Ayo, and Maria (Pepis) del Pilar are leaders of provinces, regions and sectors of the Congregation.

Luc Pouliquen and Anick Bonnefond from ESDAC (Spiritual Exercises for Communal Apostolic Discernment) presented sessions on renewing the sisters’ understanding of how to use spiritual conversations for deeper group listening and discerning as well as to guide them through a day of “Sharing the State of the House” of each of the provinces, regions, and sectors. ESDAC facilitated the congregation’s General Chapter in 2023 using this Ignatian inspired process of “spiritual conversations”.

Dr. Nancy Bancroft (far left) of the USA presented sessions on conflict management styles as well as leadership and group cohesion. Sr. Simone served as the French-English translator and Sr. Maria del Pilar (Pepis) Sordo (fourth from right), of Mexico but serving in Lebanon, served as the French-Spanish translator.

The Leaders reviewed the General Chapter Orientations and together determined next steps on several priority areas. In her evaluation, one leader reflected, ‘Le Puy was the perfect place for this first gathering of this body which will work together for the next 5 years. We were in a place of pilgrimage, and a place where our Charism was born nearly 375 years ago. We go out,
like pilgrims, renewed in our mission for today!’

On their way back to Lyon, the group stopped in Bas-en-Basset to see the birthplace of Mother St. John Fontbonne. It was a perfect end to a long and industrious week.