Part Two of the CJ General Congregation began on 22 August at Nemi outside Rome and continued the work of Part One of the GC that took place virtually in the summer of 2021. The task of a General Congregation is to attend to the general business of the CJ and to elect the General Superior and her team of consulters.
‘Becoming One’
A most significant part of the business of Part Two of the GC was to continue the process of bringing the two parts of Mary Ward’s institute into one body. The preparation for ‘Becoming One’ began a long time ago following a process of discernment and prayer. On 23rd August, at Nemi, the IBVM/Loreto branch of the institute submitted a petition to the CJ General Congregation asking for a canonical fusion.
This was accompanied by a special liturgy centred on the symbolism of a river, and when the Loreto General Superior, Sr Noelle Corscadden, presented the petition into the hands of the CJ General Superior, Sr Jane Livesey, all present sprang to their feet, wiped the tears from their eyes, and invited us all to Rejoice. We did!
The next day, part two of the canonical process, was the unanimous approval of the IBVM petition by the CJ delegates assembled in Nemi. Part three of the canonical process will take part at the IBVM General Congregation in the autumn.
REJOICE WITH US!
