On the General Chapter of the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate (SSMI) – Rome 2023
The XV Chapter of the Congregation of the SSMI began on July 5th at the Pontifical Ukrainian College of the Holy Hieromartyr Josaphat in Rome on the theme “Christ is our Life”. The Chapter lasted until July 16th. The participants of the Chapter were 29 Sister delegates from seven Provinces of the Congregation which have their Provincial Sees in Ukraine, Canada, Brazil, Serbia, Slovakia, Poland, and the United States.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk congratulated all the delegates at the Chapter from which 14 countries were represented where the Sisters actively serve. He also thanked the participants for their sacrificial work for God’s glory and the fruitful development of the Church. The opening of the General Chapter began with the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, led by the Apostolic Exarch in Italy, Bishop Dionisio Lachovicz. It was done in concelebration with the rector of the college, Father Louis Kasiyan, OSBM, and the confessor of the college, Father Dionisio Zavedyuk, OSBM. After the Divine Liturgy, the Superior General, Sister Sofija Lebedowicz, officially opened the Chapter. The participating delegates then took the oath on the Gospel and announced that within the framework of the Chapter sessions, the Sisters felt the wounds of the Ukrainian people and would jointly seek a cure for their healing, which is found in Christ, the physician of souls and bodies. The Sisters will try to work out their priorities for the next six years in order to better serve the suffering, the Church, and to pray together in order to recognize the signs of the times, seeking God’s will together.
The Chapter also began with a spiritual renewal led by the host and moderator Sister Alexandra Huf from the Congregation of Missionary Sisters of the Holy Spirit. Each new day of the Chapter began with morning prayers, Holy Liturgy, and the sharing of faith through the word of God, namely, a reflection on a passage from the Gospel, and answers to questions and how they can be used in the spiritual life. Session classes began with the reading of greetings from the clergy, the various Provinces of the Sisters Servants, as well as the Sisters of Foreign Orders and Congregations, who prayed for the successful course of the Chapter. At the beginning of the meetings, the protocol of events from the previous day was read out and the reports for the period from 2017-2023 began: first, the reports of the work of the General Board, and then followed each Provincial Superior giving an account of the work, life, and apostolate of the Sisters in their Province. It was interesting to hear the reports of all the Provinces, especially regarding the charism of the Sisters–work in kindergartens, teaching in schools, catechesis, and work with youth, efforts in parishes, and care for the sick in nursing homes. The sisters worked like bees, tirelessly helping refugees, collecting funds for the army, and sending humanitarian aid to soldiers because of the war in Ukraine. During the entire time of the General Chapter, there was an opportunity to listen to various sermons by priests, instructions by Sister Alexandra Huf, and interesting teachings from the Prefect of the Dicastery of Consecrated Life, Joan Bras de Aviz; and Bishop Dionisio Lachovicz, Apostolic Exarch for Ukrainians in Italy.
At the Chapter, the Sisters had to consider spiritual life in three dimensions:
– the blessings that God bestows upon each person
– difficulties that require the cultivation of various virtues;
– suggestions for a future life under the influence of the Holy Spirit.
Thus, the General Chapter concluded that the mission of the Sisters stems from a deep unity with Christ, which is reflected in a personal testimony of faith: “The more a consecrated person is like Christ, the more Christ will be present in the world for the salvation of people” (“Vita Consecrata”, 72). At the end, there was a vote and selection of the members of the new General Council, who were:
After long discussions and debates in the provincial groups and at the general level, plans and directions for the spiritual revitalization of the sisters were adopted and outlined, along with personal formation and recognition of the signs of the times; nurturing healthy, Christian relationships at the relationship/community level; and deepening the consciousness of conducting the mission in the spirit of the Congregation’s charisma/apostolate level. The Chapter also adopted instructions to the Superior General and her Council, and instructions to the Provincial Superiors and their Councils for the next 6 years of the Board of the General Board.
—Sister Sofija Lebedowicz–Superior General of the Congregation of the SSMI, Poland
—Sr. Bonifatija Djakiv–First Councilor and General Vicaress, Ukraine
—S. Petra Sicakova–Second Councilor, Slovakia
—Sr. Theresa Matwe–Third Councilor, Canada
—S. Rosalía Paraschuk–Fourth Councilor, Brazil