“What a marvel! God chooses and brings together young women from various places and provinces to unite them and join them together with the bond of His charity in order to show people in so many places the love He has for them and the care His Providence takes of them, to assist them in their needs, and to have God recognized in this way.” (Coste X, #112. p. 534.)
The Inter-Assemblies Encounter of Visitatrices was held at the Motherhouse in Paris from April 29 to May 20, 2024. It was preceded by a retreat with the theme: The Faces of the Spirit: Identity, Prophecy and Mission and was facilitated by the Father José Antonio González Prieto, Director General.
The Visitatrices and the Regional Superior then embarked on a two-week journey with the aim of moving onward in their service, which is so important for the Provinces, for the Company and, by extension, for our brothers and sisters who are poor.
Father Javier Alvarez, in his conference using the image of the Company’s boat in rough seas, insisted on the importance of being at ease in this world because we have the essential “equipment” to withstand the waves, Jesus Christ.
The notion of respect and the concrete demands that flow from it were mentioned several times: listening, true dialogue, benevolence, solicitude… Sister Liliana Franco addressed the question of the culture of respect in the exercise of authority. It is a mindset to be cultivated, an attitude we contemplate in Jesus, the one to whom we wish to conform. Among other things, she said: “Respect is born of the recognition that the other exists and that his or her life is important.”
During the Encounter, there was an eagerness to meet each other joyfully, to get to know other Provinces better, and to work more closely together. The fraternal atmosphere during these two weeks showed open-mindedness to possibilities in the whole Company and the desire to inspire in the Provinces this momentum. It is a sign of communion.
The testimonies, which were deeply meaningful, showed a lucidity on realities made of shadows and lights. With great honesty, the Visitatrices underlined the symptoms which show that the Company can be tempted to invest on security. And yet, taking a risk is what allows us to move forward; it is a matter of daring to take the step in faith and in hope, after a period of discernment.
Missionary boldness is what gives life to the Daughters of Charity… what makes them passionate, and the testimonies clearly showed the zeal of the Sisters, the vast majority of whom are ready to go to the peripheries of different countries.
Originally published on the International Daughters of Charity website