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The 18th General Congregation has been convoked

April 3, 2018


On April 2, on the occasion of the celebration of the Inspiration of the Rosarillo, the Superior General, Maria Inez Furtado, FI, convened the 18th General Congregation. In the General Congregation the new General Government of the Daughters of Jesus will be elected.

The meeting of the highest representation of the Congregation of the Daughters of Jesus will take place coinciding with the 150th anniversary of the Inspiration of the founding charism: in April of the year 2019. Prior to the General Congregation, between the months of December and January, the different Provincial Congregations will take place, in which the provinces will present the suggestions and petitions that they want to make to the whole congregation, and it will be determined which sisters will be the electors of the next General government in Rome.

 Precisely, with the aim of preparing us – both religious and those who are part of the family of Mother Candida.

General Congregation, what is it?

The General Congregation is the body that chooses the General Government of the Congregation. This meeting – number 18 – will begin on April 22 in Rome and will last for as long as is needed for the discernment of the issues that arise, after the election of the Mother General for the next 6 years.

In addition, during the meeting of the Congregation, the apostolic plan that will be carried out between 2019 and 2025 will be drawn up: fields of special attention, apostolic works …

How is the General Superior selected?

The delegates from each province, elected by their own sisters, meet in Rome on April 12, when they begin the eight-day Spiritual Exercises. On this occasion, the Exercises will be directed by Fr. Antonio T. Guillén Paredes, SJ.

 After these days of silent prayer the delegates will choose their superior through a system of discernment in which no candidacies are presented; inspired by the Holy Spirit, they will seek the most appropriate person to lead the Congregation during the next six years.

How many sisters participate?

As María Inez explained to the sisters in the convocation letter, this time 35 sisters will participate: 12 in their own right (Superior General and Councilors, Secretary and General Treasurer and Provincial Superiors) and 23 by election of the Provincial Congregations.

At this moment the Daughters of Jesus have five provinces: América Andina, Asia Oriental, Brasil-Caribe, España-Italia e Índico-Pacífico.

The correlation of attendees by provincial election is as follows:

Province of América Andina                         3 Sisters

Province of Asia Oriental                             4 Sisters

Province of Brasil-Caribe                             4 Sisters

Province of España-Italia                             8 Sisters

Province of Índico-Pacífico                           4 sisters

This next year, therefore, will be for internal and external preparation. Both religious and laity – each one in their role – must do their part (prayer, accompaniment, dynamisation, discernment …) to ensure that the 18th General Congregation comes to fruition and develops for the greater Glory of God.

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