The Extraordinary General Chapter of the Camillians was opened this morning at the Casa del Divin Maestro in Ariccia.

It began with a prayer at 7:30 in the morning, this very significant event of the entire Order which will elect a new Superior General and the new members of the Council.

The session was opened at 9:00 AM with a greeting of the Vicar General of the Order Fr. Paul Guarise. It was followed by a talk of Sister Nicoletta Spezzati, the Secretary of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.

Sr. Nicoletta has called the attention on the meaning of  a General Chapter which is  a “moment of grace by the Holy Spirit, a joyful and ecclesial experience of Easter which inspires the Institutes and the whole Church. After focussing also on the charism of St. Camillus de Lellis and the need to return to the fire of its origin, Sister Nicoletta spoke of the missionary identity and the mission that the Order must intensify and possess “aware of the function of the Corpus that interacts”. Knowing of our fragility as humans, Sister Spezzati concluded by saying that, “you need to pick up the legacy of the centuries, the perseverance in following Christ and in community life. The human limitations can therefore be a key to the ultimate meanings of the Camillian mission in the history.” Sr. Spezzati has also gave clear indications on the attitudes of a leader who will lead the Order.

After a short break, the morning continued with a Mass celebrated by Cardinal Joao Braz de Aviz, Prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.

During his homily, the Cardinal expressed his joy at seeing the Chapter members from around the world gathered in Ariccia in a spirit of responsibility to choose the successor of St.Camillus. “The fraternity, he added,  must be the measure of our relationships and helps us to understand better and realize among ourselves the love of Christ. I wish you a fruitful and successful Chapter”, he concluded. After the Communion, the Testament Letter of St.Camillus was read that really touches the capitulars because of its great relevance to the 400 years death anniversary.

The work will continue at 15:30 with the official opening of the Chapter, the announcement of the scrutineers, the election of the Secretary of the Chapter, and the approval of the Ordo Servandus.

At 17:30 the Consultors Frs. Alberto Marques, Hubert Goudjinou, Bro. Dieudonné Sorgho and the Vicar General Fr. Paul Guarise will present their reports.

The first day will be concluded with the celebration of Vespers and the fraternal dinner.

The entire Chapter will be graced by the presence Father Sandro Perrone, a representative of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.

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