On the 28th, after morning prayer, we began to work in the plenary hall with S. Kelly Connors on the Abuse Protocol. She emphasized the Pope’s radical position in the face of this cruel situation that so many children suffer, due to abuse of power, pride, arrogance and corruption.

Kelly informed us how the Pope, under the guidance of the WHO, has proposed a package of measures: “INSPIRE”, to eradicate violence against minors, which should inspire various dimensions of care in the Church. Pope Francis speaks of “a true purification”, an intense effort towards holiness is needed in pastors, whose configuration to Christ the Good Shepherd is a right of the people of God. Also important is the formation and unity of bishops in the application of parameters that have the value of norms and not just guidance:

 “No abuse should ever be covered up or undervalued, because the cover-up of abuse encourages the spread of evil and adds an additional level of scandal. The Church has a duty to support victims. Listening heals the wounded, and heals ourselves from selfishness, from distance, from the “it is not my place” attitude of the priest and the Levite in the parable of the Good Samaritan” (POPE FRANCIS).

The UISG, in turn, works deeply in child care with the aim of creating a safe space in the community for the care of all its members. At present, an abuse protocol is already required of religious congregations, a protocol that will be implemented from now on in our religious family.

We were invited to deepen some questions:

How do we understand physical, psychological, spiritual or power abuses? How do I live my vows? We are born at the feet of the Pieta, how do we live compassion? Our being an open gospel, in what does it become concrete? Do we already recognize that whatever we do teaches? What face of Jesus Christ do I want to reveal today?

The second part of the morning was to concretize what the Congregation has to integrate today in terms of the signs of the times of interculturality, integral ecology and the abuses that we have worked on since the 25th until today. We were invited to avoid pretty speeches in order to concretize the Gospel and the urgencies to be faced in the next 6 years as a Congregation.

With this sharing we closed the first part of the Chapter.

The afternoon was to introduce the work of the proposals. We began to vote on those that affect the election process of the Superior General and her councilors.

At the end of the day and in prayer and thanksgiving for all the work done, we prepare our hearts for the election process that will begin tomorrow, Tuesday, August 29.

Maria de Mar
Nemi, 08.28.23