The Fourth General Chapter was celebrated in Ariccia (RM), in the Divine Master House, from April 4 – May 3, 1987. In accord with the liturgical season, it was lived in an intense Paschal climate, in the experience of the Lord and Risen Master present among his disciples. On March 24, 1987, during the First Vespers of the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, M. M. Scholastica Rivata, the first Mother of the Sister Disciples and first ex-Superior General, lived her Paschal exodus in the community of Sanfré (CN). This death, on the eve of the opening of the General Chapter, constitutes an event that is significant for the entire Congregation.
The theme of the Fourth General Chapter was “Our charism and mission in the Church and in the world today”. The general objective of the Chapter was defined as: Revitalizing the persons and communities reinforcing at all levels the integral formation in our charismatic identity for the mission in the Church and in the world today.” In order to attain this objective, the Chapter established the constitution of a center for the systematic study of the charism and the specific mission, in view of the formation and animation. In greater detail it established that, beside the research team, there would be another team for the orientation and coordination of the apostolate.
The General Government was elected at the Chapter: Mother M. Tecla Molino was confirmed as the Superior General and Sr. M. Paola Mancini was elected as Vicar General. The chapter assembly perceived the need to respond to the increasingly international character of the Congregation. In the election of the General Council it took this factor into consideration. Re-elected were: Sr. M. Piercarla Consonni (Italy) and Sr. M. Christiane Gervais (Canada), who was also elected as General Secretary. The other elected Councilors were: Sr. M. Margarita Ferrari (Argentina), Sr. M. Franca Riba (Italian, but serving in the United States), Sr. M. Celine Santiago (Philippines). Sr. M. Rosalia Rossetti was re-elected as Treasurer.