Liturgy with the Kloster Annenthal Community

October 17, 2022

Each Saturday during the General Chapter, the Chapter members have had the opportunity to join the Kloster Annenthal community for morning mass. Sr. MuYoung from the Emmaus International Community provides musical accompaniment and the Korean sisters sang a cappella during one of the masses. What a blessing to pray together for the needs of our Congregation and our world!

The General Chapter guidelines permit the Superior General to invite up to 8 guests to the General Chapter. These guests participate in all the input and activities of the Chapter. Three of our invited guests shared their impressions:

“I am very grateful to be an invited member of the 2022 General Chapter in Coesfeld,” said Sr. Maria Bertin (Jakarta, Indonesia). “The presence of SND from all over the world shows the face of God’s mercy in this challenging world. The young sisters in this chapter are a sign of hope and a new perspective from the congregation to look toward to respond to the needs of the Church.” Sr. Bertin currently serves at Notre Dame School in Gran Wisata as Rector and has served in secretarial capacities in the Province. She has a degree in public relations and secretarial skills.

Sr. Mary Teresa (Nairobi, Kenya, East Africa) will be returning to Kenya after the Chapter and beginning a new mission with two other sisters at Our Lady of the Assumption parish and school in the Meru Diocese. Sister has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Education and will serve as Headteacher at the school. “I’m very grateful to God for this special honor and the opportunity to come here to Coesfeld where our Congregation was founded and meet with our Sisters from all over the world. I am much impressed by the prophetic spirit of our Sisters as we prepare the chapter directives and recommendations. May God continue to bless us!”

“The sharings and discussions at this Chapter have given me a clear understanding of the direction we need to move as a Congregation in accordance with the spirit of synodality,” said Sr. Mary Karuna. “Every member of the chapter vibrates a deep desire to embrace the ‘new’ which will lead us to fulness of life by living our charism and spirituality in a creative way. It is a profound experience for me to participate in this Chapter.” Currently living at the Generalate in Rome and assisting with the formation programs throughout the Congregation, Sr. Mary Karuna’s experiences as a novice director, school administrator and provincial councilor have provided her with many insights and experiences to bring to her work at the Chapter.