From October 8 - 12, representatives from each of the communities of the Province of St. Joseph gathered for a time of reflection, assessment, and discernment. This gathering, known as a Provincial Chapter, occurs once every six years and is a time of immediate preparation for the worldwide General Chapter beginning in September 2027.
Holding up the Beatitudes as a beacon to guide the province, the Sisters, lay collaborators, and young people shared the ways the Salesian charism is strong, and areas where more growth is needed. There was small group sharing, a panel discussion by lay collaborators, and presentations from the young. Milly Beltran, Director of Campus Ministry at Immaculata-La Salle High School in Miami FL said, “I found the experience affirming to my mission as a lay collaborator to aid in the formation of good Christians and honest citizens in our young. It was also a gift to spend time with my Sisters.”
The lay collaborators, from all areas of the province, enjoyed connecting with each other which allowed them to widen their view of Salesian ministries and the diverse ways the Salesian Family can meet the young. The young people who were chosen as representatives met on Zoom prior to the event and bonded quickly as they met in person to share their experiences with the Sisters. Heidi Krukis, a senior at Mary Help of Christians Academy, commented that she enjoyed asking her peers how the Salesian spirit was lived in their schools. The Sisters and lay collaborators listened attentively to their comments and spoke highly of the value of having the youths' reflections.
One of the highlights of the weekend was hearing, Joshua Balthazaar, youth representative from St. Benedict Parish, Etobicoke, Ontario say, “I never saw the process that goes into all that the Sisters do, so seeing this helps me appreciate how loved I really am.” He articulated well the reason why the Sisters and lay collaborators gathered — for love of the young, that they might realize how cherished they are by God.
The Sisters also met to compile a final report for the General Chapter and to elect who would represent the province of St. Joseph and accompany Sr. Colleen Clair, Provincial, to Rome next fall. Sister Marisa De Rose was chosen by her Sisters with Sister April Hoffman as the substitute. Sister Theresa Samson shared, “The provincial chapter was a profoundly beautiful experience of being led by the Holy Spirit in communion with my Sisters. We gathered together to listen and synthesize the reflections of our province communities on how we live our Salesian charism today. I feel great hope that our contribution to the General Chapter will converge with the input of our worldwide communities and align with the vision of the Holy Spirit for us today.”