New Pope meets New Superior General of Sisters of Saint Joseph

Delegates with Pope

May was a pivotal time in the life of the Church and also for us as Sisters of Saint Joseph of Annecy. Our General Chapter, held once every six years a few miles outside Rome, coincided with the Conclave and the Election of Pope Leo XIV.

The Sisters of St Joseph were founded in France in 1650 by Fr Jean-Pierre Medaille, a Jesuit priest, to work with the poor and those in any kind of need. Our particular branch began in Annecy, in France in 1833 and since then has spread to other parts of France, the UK, India and East and West Africa and Congo.

The General Chapter plans for the next six years in the life of our Congregation and elects a new Superior General and team who implement the decisions of the Chapter and oversee the wellbeing of our International Congregation. The elected delegates came from the various countries where we are established, France, UK and Ireland, many parts of India, Kenya and Tanzania, as well as delegates representing Senegambia and Congo.

The early days of the Chapter were spent getting to know one another a little better, although Zoom meetings prior to the Chapter had helped in this regard. Reports of our life and mission were given, helping delegates understand our needs and the focus for our life in the future. The theme of the Chapter- "Crossing thresholds and embracing the new" was certainly significant since in the early days of the Chapter, the "White Smoke" emerged from the Vatican and we gladly embraced this new phase in the life of the Church. Soon it was time to look out for own our "White Smoke" and once again there was a wonderful threshold to cross together. For the first time in the history of our Congregation, we have elected an African Superior General - Sr Marie Pierre Ndiaye from Senegal, currently the Regional Superior of the Senegambia and Congo Region. Her election came the day before the first of Pope Leo's Wednesday audiences and the Delegates were privileged to be seated just to the right of the Podium for the Audience. It was a moment of pride to hear our Congregation being named in the Vatican broadcast. Afterwards the Pope received the Delegates and Sr Marie Pierre received a special blessing from the Holy Father and the cameras were certainly busy at those very poignant moments.

The remaining days of the Chapter were devoted to the election of the General Team who will support Sr Marie Pierre - Sr Tessy (France), Sr Jackie (Senegambia and Congo), Sr Lizy and Sr Deepa from the Indian Provinces. We recognise that this has been a very privileged time for us as Congregation. We give thanks for what has been and we gladly cross the thresholds embracing a new reality in our lives as Sisters of St Joseph of Annecy.

As this new phase in the life of the Church emerges under Pope Leo, we too, in this Jubilee Year of Hope aim to continue our life and mission, in a spirit of synodality as we move forward with the People of God.

LINK

Sisters of St Joseph of Annecy: https://srsofstjosephofannecy.org/index.php/en/