Graciela Francovig was re-elected General Superior. We have experienced this day of the General Congregation with deep reflection, gratitude, and joy.
We began with the Eucharist in the chapel of the curia, presided over by Orlando Torres, SJ. In his homily, he shared three desires for each of us and the entire Congregation: the grace of
- to have the gaze of Jesus and to make it transparent in our lives
- to experience God’s love, an experience that is the foundation of our faith, and to share this life-giving love,
- that we may receive the Spirit that the Father and the Son is giving without measure, the Spirit that guides in discernment and choices throughout life
We were sent to elect our Superior General for the next six years, and after the Eucharist, we went into the “sala capitular” for the election.
We began with the invocation of the Spirit and a time of prayer. The voting was presided over by the oldest and longest-serving sister in the Congregation, Mª Inez Furtado de Mendoça, former Superior General.
As we all know, Graciela Francovig has been elected Superior General.
“I am always ready and prepared to do God’s will in everything and for everything, and for the good of the Congregation, I will give my life”. [Letter 64. To Sr. Antonia Robles. 1 April 1895. BAC. Volume I.
One hundred thirty years and one month ago, M. Candida wrote these words, so meaningful and so “ours”. Today, Graciela expresses them again, with her life, for the whole Congregation as Superior General. We thank you for your “Yes.”
Each elector came forward to express our affection and appreciation with an embrace. Every sister of the entire Congregation was represented in this meaningful gesture of the embrace.
Then, Mª Inez opens the door of the ‘sala capitular” and presents to the non-electoral sisters present in the community who have been elected Superior General, and, in turn, the secretary general communicates this to the entire Congregation and the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life.
Afterwards, we went to the chapel and there we had a moment of prayer and community expression of thanksgiving to God, entrusting to our Superior General, Graciela Francovig, praying for her the desires we received in the Eucharist, praying together the “Take Lord” and uniting with Mary with the recitation of the Magnificat.
We also enjoyed a beautiful moment of festivity and joy, with a toast and some pastries that we shared in community, making the whole Congregation present. We sang “Clara estrella”, the hymn of the Congregation, and it especially resonated in us.
For a land without borders
your missionary daughters
are the Hijas de Jesus.
