General Chapter

The General Board spearheaded the 10th SFIC General Chapter, a momentous event in the Congregation, with great leap of faith and trust to the abiding presence and interventions of the Triune God from its inception until its completion. With all the uncertainties and restrictions posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, proposed plans had to be modified depending on the signals and status received from the government. The General Chapter was postponed twice because of strict observance of health and travel protocols. It was not easy to discern time and again what is most favorable for all. Indeed, listening to different voices both internal and external paved the way to redirecting what was originally planned. The use of Telematic or online conference as proposed by the Vatican was also considered. The General Board consulted the delegates for this matter. Possibilities were explored and discerned well. After all these processes, the General Board finally decided to hold the General Chapter on a face-to-face setting. The month of December was deemed most favorable for this significant event. True enough, the delegates from Indonesia, Kenya and the Netherlands were able to enter the Philippines! Of course, they submitted themselves to protocols: quarantine in the hotels for some days and they continued the remaining days at the Provincial House and in La Verna – Quezon City. 

The General Chapter was held on December 2-12, 2021 at the Provincial House of the Philippine North Province in Quezon City, Philippines with the theme: “For the Love of God: A Call to be Prophetic Witnesses of Hope, Unity and Peace.” It was attended by sixteen (16) delegates: