(ANS-Miejsce Piastowe) -  The 17th General Chapter of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Michael the Archangel (CSSMA) belonging to the Salesian family, opened yesterday, 20th February, at Miejsce Piastowe, with the motto: "Our faith as a Michelite weapon in the struggle for the salvation of souls". The Salesian Rector Major, Fr Pascual Chávez Villanueva, opened the Chapter.

Fr Chavez presided at the opening Mass. Also taking part were: the Rector Major's Vicar, Fr Adrian Bregolin; the Councillor for North Europe, Fr Marek Chrzan; the Provincial of Krakow Province, Fr Dariusz Bartocha; the Superior General of the male branch of the Michaelites, Fr Kazimierz Radzik and members of his General Council. Besides the 33 delegates to the Chapter, the Sisters from the  Mother House Michaelite community at Miejsce Piastowe also attended.

The Rector Major then spoke to the sisters on: "Prophets of hope for a sick world. Mission of consecrated life today". Speaking of religious life in present-day society Fr Chavez stressed that "never before has consecrated life been as necessary and important." The task of consecrated persons "is to be 'sentinels of the morning', careful to contemplate the good seeds that are sprouting, announcing the arrival of spring; prophets of hope who do not succumb to pessimism but draw light and energy from the Resurrection, the victory of Life over death". For this "the religious must make a great and shared effort to create religious communities where spiritual solidity, the human quality and apostolic commitment of its members ensure that life can be really good, beautiful and happy".

The ecclesial and charismatic coincidence of the 17th CSSMA General Chapter is interesting:  you are celebrating, in the Year of Faith and a few days after the conclusion of the Jubilee year for the 100th Anniversary of the death of Blessed Bronislaw Markiewicz, Founder of the Congregation. The sisters, in the spirit of faith, want to look again at how they are carrying out the charism in the light of the acclamation of their Patron Saint Michael the Archangel – "Who is like God" – and the message of their Founder: "God above all else!".

The election of the Superior General and her Council will take place during the 17th Chapter. The elections are planned for February 25th the date that recalls the arrival at Miejsce Piastowe of Co-foundress of the Congregation, the Servant of God, Mother Anna Kaworek.

This year ends the six-year term of the current Superior General, Mother Natanaela Bednarczyk. During her tenure, on request of the previous Chapter and with the consent of the Salesian General Council, the Michaelites joined the Salesian family with whom they share the same objectives and similar methods of acting, in which in the first place is the education of youth through accompaniment and offering them the witness of faith.

Published 21/02/2013