2019 General Chapter 

From May 12 to 22, the Sisters of the Holy Cross held their Twenty-sixth General Chapter in Shillong, India. The Chapter, convened every five years, has two main objectives. The first is to articulate a direction that reflects how God is calling the Congregation to live and serve at this time in history; the second is to elect the General Administration members who will be facilitating the Congregation’s implementation of that direction.

General Chapter Direction Statement

After two years of surfacing, exploring and refining a variety of issues—including nonviolence and advocacy for justice, intercultural living and governance—members of the Congregation elected sisters from eight countries to serve as delegates to the General Chapter.  The delegates, through prayer, conversation and reflection, articulated a Direction Statement that reflects the commitment of the Congregation to bring healing and wholeness to those who are suffering from violence and injustice in our broken world. Around the globe, sisters are energized by this new direction that focuses their lives spiritually, in community, in ministry and in partnership with others over the next five years.

The 2019 Chapter Direction Statement specifically expresses the sisters’ desire to partner with companions on the journey to heal our world and give witness to God’s transforming love:

“We stand together with peoples and companions whose
generosity and faith inspire and humble us in our common call to holiness.”

“We desire to be prophetic witnesses with all members of the
human family who share our values and our hope for reconciliation and peace.”

“We do not do this work alone,” said Sister M. Veronique (Wiedower), CSC, Congregation president, who was elected to a second five-year term. “It is only in partnership with others—our employees, volunteers, benefactors, Holy Cross Associates and prayerful supporters—that we can respond to the signs of the times, heal the world’s wounds and mend its brokenness through the transforming love of God.”

Sister Veronique continued, “At the General Chapter we recognized anew that this healing begins with each of us individually as we live our call to holiness, community and intercultural living. That wholeness, that shalom, flows forth into ministry, service to the Church and communion with others who share our values and our hopes for all of God’s people and for creation.”

General Chapter Elections

During General Chapter, the following were elected to serve on the General Leadership Team (GLT) for the next five years: Sister Veronique, president, and Sisters Pushpa Teresa Gomes, Suzanne Brennan, Esther Adjoa Entsiwah and Mary Tiernan, councilors. The 2019-2024 GLT will be installed on September 8.