General Chapter Enactments 2022

28th General Chapter Enactments 2022 SOCIETY OF THE HOLY CHILD JESUS

Impelled Incarnational Spirit by our

Imagining The Society’s 28th General Chapter began on Easter Sunday 2022, at a momentous time in the world’s awareness, a time marked by — the global environmental crisis … daily scenes of wars across the globe and the current horror in Ukraine … the ongoing menace of Covid-19 … insecurity … growing racial and political unrest … the Catholic Church’s internal challenges and its call to synodality …

Months of Society-wide conversation and prayer preceded the general chapter, serving to focus attention on the reality that our one Society is in a time of major transition as the number of members declines in Europe and America and increases in Africa. Additionally, as the Society moves into an ever more global context and continues to transition and evolve in new ways, the next six years are crucial for us. Now is the right time to begin a progressive change in how we organize ourselves today and tomorrow for mission in a rapidly changing world.

In the early days of the chapter at Centro Ad Gentes in Nemi, Italy, delegates were invited to imagine the Society’s future by means of metaphors because these have the power to awaken the creative energy, desires and hopes that lie just beneath the surface of consciousness.

Dynamic images emerged to guide the Society leadership team’s service and SHCJ life during the next six years: 1

zA network of members who embrace the world with the binding force of the Incarnation. The SLT has the role of leading the Society into mission, building up and unifying all members of the Society. zThe constant tidal movement of the ocean. The tides bring gifts of life along with pollutants and debris.

This constant ebb and flow express the dynamism and fluidity that will distinguish the way we embrace our mission in the years ahead. zA large flock of birds flying together both by instinct and leadership. They shift positions en route, yet always move together with focus and purpose for the sake of life and vitality, caring for one another as part of the journey.

The chapter recommends that every member — alone and with others — take time to contemplate these metaphors so as to be open to receive the gift that is surely being offered for the present and future life of the Society at this critical time. No doubt other creative metaphors will continue to emerge, as all of us engage with these visions.

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1. A network of members embracing the world with the binding force of the Incarnation In the opening sentence of our constitutions we name the gift we have received from Cornelia for the good of all creation: “God has chosen to need men and women in every age to reveal divine love, to make known the reality of the Incarnation.” Paragraphs 1-4 describe this gift, this charism which is the energy that powers our dynamic mission to help others know God’s loving presence and action among us. By living the Incarnation, most often in the ordinariness of everyday life and ministry, we become one body with one heart and spirit — cor unum — united in these core values that identify us so deeply. a) Incarnational charism — We will continue to probe our understanding of the Incarnation and its meaning for the Society’s ongoing life and mission in concrete ways. b) Advancement of Cornelia’s spirituality — We will continue to promote the life and spirituality of Cornelia Connelly and the Society of the Holy Child Jesus, and we call on the Society leadership team to monitor the care of Cornelia’s remains regularly. c) Formative programmes — We call on formation personnel to develop formative programmes to educate our new members in these core values.

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d) Scholasticate programme for temporary professed sisters — To meet the formation needs of sisters in temporary profession, the African Province will design a pilot “scholasticate” programme to be presented to the Society leadership team for approval. This holistic programme will include some face-to-face components within the province as well as on-line elements involv-

Impelled by our Incarnational spirit

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2. Embracing our mission with dynamism & fluidity Our incarnational charism impels each of us to continue to address matters of justice and other urgent issues of the day. Such issues include the environmental crisis, racism, war, increasing waves of migration, and other as yet unforeseen concerns that will call for our response in the coming years. To strengthen and increase the good that we and many others are doing in our world, we want to use our corporate voice and resources in collaboration especially with our associates, religious congregations and other organizations. a) Laudato Si’ Action Platform — As one Society we will enroll in this unique collaboration between the Vatican and other institutions, communities, and people of good will who are committed to journeying to full sustainability, in response to Pope Francis’ urgent call “for healing in our relationships with God, our neighbors, and the Earth itself.” We are all encouraged to visit the LSAP website where there is extensive information about the Platform’s goals: https://laudatosiactionplatform.org/about/. b) Racism, colonialism, tribalism — We acknowledge racism, colonialism, tribalism, etc. in ourselves, our history, our present experiences and cultures. We also acknowledge that many sisters are working with organizations to advocate for justice for all people. The chapter challenges all of us to commit ourselves personally and collectively as provinces and as a Society to continue to be converted as we work for greater justice and equality in our world.

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The chapter supports the archivists in working with organisations to expand our history of Cornelia Connelly in the American South, including the Connellys’ connection with enslaved people and the descendants of Sally and Phoebe Grayson/Gough. c) Corporate voice — The Society extended leadership team will investigate how best we might speak with a corporate voice in organisations and through statements that represent the Incarnational values we profess. d) Expansion of the Society — In response to the 2016 chapter call to “expand beyond our current geographical borders” sisters in the African Province have been exploring specific possibilities. The 2022 chapter appreciates their very significant effort to extend the Society’s mission and spirit to meet new needs in new places, in Cornelia’s “spirit of concern for the whole world.” The chapter calls for the support and prayer of the whole Society as the African Province leadership team submits an action plan to the Society leadership team; we are all the beneficiaries of this apostolic zeal.

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3. Moving together like a flock of birds Some flocks of birds fly together as one fluid mass in the sky with instinctive direction and purpose – perhaps sharing information about food sources, or attracting other flocks to fly with them, always communing with one another. In the same way we as a Society have always recognized the importance of communication between and among us (see Constitutions 12, 81).

We live in a world that is experiencing an explosion of systems of communication and we need to diversify our ways of being in relationship and communion together. This chapter calls us to use all the means at our disposal to enhance communication across the Society.

Communication — With the increased skills we acquired during Covid-19 and pre-chapter virtual discussions we will build on that experience by improving our technological resources and competence and continuing to engage in conversations about matters of SHCJ life and mission today.

Province leadership teams will ensure that sisters have the necessary technology to participate in Society-wide communication. Each of us who is able is responsible to be engaged actively in province and Society-wide exchange.

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4. Adapting structures In this time of shifting demographics both in the world and the Society, we will continue to adapt organizational structures and practices as needed in order to expand participation and voice among our own members and meet the unique needs of each province. We will find ways to engage with others beyond the Society for the purpose of widening and diversifying input and expertise for key issues of life and mission. The Society and province leadership teams will incorporate this way of proceeding into their practice, and report on it at regular intervals.

The term of office of the Society leadership team will continue to be for six years, 2022-2028. It is preferred that the terms of the Society leader and the team members be non-renewable in the same roles, but a team member could be elected to the role of Society leader in the subsequent term.

2028 General Chapter — If this includes a meeting of elected delegates, the Society extended leadership team following consultation with members, will determine a just and equitable representation from each province, ensuring that internationality of the chapter is maintained, however possible.

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We call for mutual accountability from all leaders and members for the advancement of these enactments.

The Society and Province leadership teams will support our engagement in evaluating these action steps with timelines for their implementation throughout the next six years.

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