On 10 July, in Gallio, the Chapter of the Ursuline nuns

“Sisters in a people that invoke courage and hope”. It is the title of the General Chapter of the Ursuline Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Mary scheduled in Gallio, on the Asiago plateau, from 10 July to 10 August. Four weeks to take stock of the Congregation, look to the future and elect the new Superior General and the Council. “We started from the observation of the particular time that the whole of humanity is experiencing – explains the outgoing Superior Sister Maria Luisa Bertuzzo -: a pandemic, an after Covid that does not leave peace, a tried humanity, and in many cases exhausted (especially in its female component) a people that certainly needs courage and hope, as well as closeness, support and attention ». Concluding the six years since the previous Chapter, the religious asked themselves: how can we continue to be sister-sisters in this historical context?

The second week, before the actual election, a time dedicated exclusively to listening to the word of God is scheduled: «The goal is to help the group to establish itself as a community that discerns in the Spirit – explains Sister Bertuzzo -. The group of 25 capitulars (representatives of the communities in Italy, Brazil and Mozambique ed) will be helped to be “one heart and one soul”, so as to act as a listening community before electing its own representatives for the next six years ». The nuns will be guided by Maria Grazia Magazzino, a lay expert in guiding discernment on the Ignatian style.

Sister Maria Luisa, let’s start with an assessment of the past six years. What are the positive and negative signs? Above all with respect to the theme of the promotion of women that you care so much.

«The past six years contain everything that characterizes life: the beauty of having walked united in the mission that distinguishes us, said in the words of the foundress“ for the salvation and sanctification of the popular female class ”; the joy of having celebrated the centenaries of the birth (150 years) and death (100) of mother Giovanna Meneghini, founder; the fatigue of experiencing a pandemic, trying to be close to women and families in difficulty; the pain of having lost some sisters, including the last superior general; the great joy of having accepted the first vows of 3 sisters and the perpetual profession of the first Mozambican nun! On the issue of women I do not hide a great concern for the growing violence against women: femicides, the war with attacks on women and children, not to mention the rapes that are consumed in it “

Any news to report?

«A very important one: the lay membership of some groups, in Italy and Brazil, which share our spirituality through the issue of the promises of belonging. They are called Kar.in groups, “charism together”: through these sisters and brothers who share spirituality and service, our Family expands to other dimensions. Saturday 9 July we will meet them in Breganze together with other groups and associations linked to our Congregation for a sharing in view of the Chapter ».

The first Ursuline nun in Mozambique was also consecrated. What does this “international opening” mean?

“It means that a charism, like the intuition of a specific spirituality that takes concrete form in equally specific actions, for us the attention to women, does not remain the monopoly of a territory or a nation, but lived in other cultures takes root like a seed that germinates, grows and lives producing fruit. So our presence as Ursulines born in the Veneto region is not only of Venetian Ursulines, but of women who in the continents where we are present have encountered a way of following the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to a specific intuition “.

How did you feel about the responsibility of Mother General?

“It was a task in the dimension of evangelical service, in the awareness of not being alone, but of walking with a large community. Naturally this requires dialogue, discussion, both with the general council and with each individual community and sister. It hasn’t always been easy and immediate, but when the basic objective is clear, we walk decisively towards the goal ».

Vocations are now almost exclusively foreign. How do you read this phenomenon?

“Over the centuries, religious life has undergone many changes both in style and in modalities, but it has never failed. Now we are clearly in an era of change, indeed, as Pope Francis likes to remember, “in a change of epoch”, therefore also this form of life is subjected to the challenges of its time as are other ecclesial realities: let’s think, for for example, to parishes as we understood them until recently and how we live them today. But I am sure that the Lord will not let him lack the gift of consecrated life to the Church, even if in different forms ».

How will the vote for the new Mother General take place?

«It will take place within a process of identifying first of all the criteria for choosing some sisters and then of orientation on the names of concrete persons. After the shared phase, each one will be able to personally vote in a secret way who she deems adequate to cover the required tasks “.

Could this Council be an opportunity for a generational change? What do you expect?

“The generational change is certainly desirable, as far as possible, but I think it is equally important to set up a governance group that is an expression of the different cultures where we are present and of the different mission areas”.

Our bishop Pizziol has resigned. At the end of the year we may already have the replacement. What do you wish the Pastor who will arrive?

«First of all, I express my sincere thanks to Bishop Beniamino for the years of life given to the diocese which he immediately felt was” his “! To the bishop that God wills for us I wish to be a shepherd among his people – meaning “all” vocations as a people – but above all to be a bishop who lives “evangelii gaudium”! “.

The Chapter opens on Sunday 10 July, at 10.30, in the parish church of Breganze, with a mass presided over by Bishop Pizziol.