The Chapter began with a pilgrimage to Cúcuta, the place of the Founder's death, on the threshold of the centenary year of his Birth to Heaven, which will be on Feb. 1, 2023.
In this holy place, the Sisters, gathered in the memory of their Founder and guided by his teachings, began the journey of chapter discernment, which involved 39 religious, from the 11 countries in which the Institute is currently present; a journey that saw its culmination on December 24, when, on the monthly memory of Mary Help of Christians, the chapter assembly elected the future Mother General and her Council.
The Mother General elected is Mother Eulalia Marín Rueda, previously Superior General of the Institute. As for the Council: Sister Mildre Milena Cortés Niño, former novice mistress, was chosen as Vicar General; Sister Betty Cecilia González Contreras was re-elected for a second term as Bursar Councilor; Sister Sara Emilce Güezguán Patiño was elected as Pastoral Councilor, a religious strong in her experience of directing several educational works in the Institute; and Sister Emma Vino Nina, of Bolivian nationality, was elected as Councilor for the Secular Movement.
There were many significant moments during the chapter's journey, including sharing with members of the "Blessed Luigi Variara" Secular Movement, an association of priests and lay people who share the Institute's Salesian life-giving charism; a pilgrimage to Agua de Dios, with a visit to the Institute's mother house and sharing with Sisters suffering from leprosy; and the celebration of the feast of gratitude to the outgoing Superiors at Christmas.
Accompanying the Institute throughout the chapter time was Fr. Luis Mur Malagón, SDB, an expert in canon law, as legal assessor.
The Daughters of the Sacred Hearts express their gratitude to God, to the Rector Major, Fr. Ángel Fernández Artime, to the Superior of the Salesian Province of Colombia-Bogotá (COB), Fr. Jhon Jairo Gómez Rúa, to Fr. Luis Mur Malagón, and to all members of the Salesian Family for the closeness and prayer that accompanied this important chapter event and that, they are sure, will continue to accompany the accomplishment of the Chapter Directors, in fidelity to the charism of the foundation and in priority attention to the young, especially the poorest, and to the sick, especially those with leprosy.
