From May 18 to 23, the Congregation is experiencing a true time of grace and communion in Ciempozuelos (Madrid) with the celebration of the II Congregational Meeting of Local Superiors.
Under the theme “On the Path of Revitalization: Service of Animation and Hospitable Governance,” this gathering brings together 35 superiors from six circumscriptions — eight of them participating online — accompanied by our Superior General, Sr. Idília Maria Carneiro, and the General Councilors Sr. Begoña Pérez, Sr. Mª Carmen Martín, and Sr. Nicole Mayinga.
The joy of the gathering began on May 17, when the participants traveled from the Provincial House of Spain in Madrid to the Oblate Sisters’ house in Ciempozuelos. At the opening of the meeting, Sr. Idília warmly welcomed the sisters, expressing special gratitude to the General Government and the Province of Spain for their careful preparation and support in making this congregational encounter possible.
In her opening remarks, the Superior General recalled that each sister arrives carrying in her heart the life of her communities, with their challenges, hopes, and shared mission journeys. “All the sisters are present in this cenacle of hospitable encounter,” she said warmly, inviting everyone to live these days with an attitude of listening, discernment, and fraternal communion.
Inspired by our Chapter theme, “Clothe yourselves with hearts of mercy,” the meeting seeks to deepen the service of leadership and community animation within the process of revitalization and restructuring currently being experienced by the Congregation. Sr. Idília emphasized that this journey requires “focusing on what is essential to our identity and consecrated life,” allowing ourselves to be transformed by the mercy of the Heart of Jesus so as to become “instruments and artisans of hospitality, weavers of new realities.”
The facilitation of these days is entrusted to Begoña Martínez, from the ADSIS Communities movement, who is proposing a journey based on surprise, appreciative awareness, and grateful recognition of community life. Through group dynamics and spaces for spiritual conversation, the participants are deepening their experience of service, leadership, and governance from a synodal and genuinely charismatic perspective.
During these days, vital topics are being addressed, such as leadership in consecrated life, synodal leadership, and charismatic leadership. All of this is being carried out with the strong desire to strengthen a style of governance marked by closeness, welcome, listening, dialogue, and accompaniment of both personal and community processes.
Likewise, the Superior General reminded everyone that the community “is built each day, with the humanity we are and with the gift of God who calls us to follow Jesus, compassionate and merciful,” and encouraged the sisters to ask themselves from the deepest part of their vocation: “Why does God entrust this service to me?”
As a sign of universality, the meeting also includes translation services in French and English, thus fostering full participation and communion among all the sisters present.
Within the framework of these days, we also joyfully welcomed the visit of the Brothers of St. John of God. The Provincial Superior of Spain, Brother Jesús Etayo, and the Provincial Secretary, Brother Moisés Martín, joined us in the celebration of the Eucharist. In his reflection, Brother Etayo encouraged us to entrust this congregational process to the guidance and light of the Spirit, especially during this Easter season and as Pentecost approaches, always following the luminous example of Saint Benito Menni.
The meeting continues to unfold in a profound atmosphere of fraternity, listening, and hope, strengthening the commitment to continue building hospitable communities dedicated to the service of suffering humanity.
