The Eighth General Chapter was celebrated in Rome, at Bethany House in Via Portuense 741, from March 19 – April 16, 2011. After 64 years the Sister Disciples of the Divine Master returned to the place in which they celebrated the First General Chapter.
The theme of our 8th General Chapter was: Bread Broken and Shared for the Life of the World.
General objective: Becoming disciples of Jesus Master in co-responsibility, in communion and in service.
Specific objectives: At the school of the Eucharist:
- become aware of the phenomenon of globalization in its totality and the environmental crisis as the context of our life and mission;
- renew the values of Pauline poverty in its specific functions;
- form ourselves in sharing as a requirement of mature faith and active charity in order to contribute, according to our resources, to an effective communion of goods, in view of the mission.
In the Final Message the chapter members wrote: “In this 8th General Chapter, as Father Alberione and Mother M. Scholastica did in the past, we sought to gaze contemplatively upon our world and our Congregation so as to receive the blessings and challenges they present. Together we relived the Eucharistic experience of Blessed James Alberione. At 16 years of age, “in response to the evangelical invitation: “Come to me all of you”, he felt obliged to prepare himself to do something for the Lord and humanity of his time, uniting everything in Christ the Master, Way, Truth and Life”. The development of the four stages outlined in the chronogram of the Chapter, progressively involved us in co-responsibility and sharing, enabling us to experience the beauty and the difficulties of the cultural realities of the 31 nations in which we are present in the five continents as Disciples of the Divine Master. During the interventions in the Assembly hall the attention was focused on the Circumscriptions and upon all of you, sisters, from the various cultures. The discussions on priorities, guidelines for action and motions confirmed that we belong to a living Congregation; a body formed by healthy, living and active members. Through the gift of God, we are a religious family which is open to the future in hope.”
The Chapter assembly elected Sr. M. Regina Cesarato as Superior General for a second term. Five councilors were elected: Sr. M. Micaela Monetti (re-elected), Sr. M. Celine Cunha (re-elected), Sr. M. Leticia Bantolinao (Province of Philippines/Taiwan/Hong Kong), Sr. Ana Maria Mazurrana (Delegation of Argentina), Sr. M. Anetta Szczykutowicz (Delegation of Africa).
Later, the Superior General, with the consent of her council, appointed Sr. M. Lidia Awoki as General Secretary and re-appointed Sr. M. Agar Corena as Treasurer.