The Canonical Visitation of our Superior General took place in Viterbo (Italy) from January 28 to February 4, marking a meaningful time of encounter, discernment, and shared mission. These were intense days, lived with deep spiritual depth and with the certainty that we are one body, animated by the same Spirit.
The visit began with an initial gathering in the community chapel. There, under the gaze of the Heart of Jesus, a space of shared prayer and reflection was opened, accompanying the entire journey of these days. Common prayer and fraternal dialogue made it possible to reread life and mission through attentive listening to reality and to the promptings of the Spirit.
In every encounter, the motto that guides our congregational journey resonated strongly: “A shoot will spring from its roots.” Looking at our roots does not mean returning to the past, but rather recognizing in them the sap that sustains us today and urges us to move forward with boldness and hope toward the future. From this perspective, the community reflected deeply on current challenges and on the opportunities that are opening up to continue responding with creative fidelity to the mission entrusted to us.
During the visit, a particularly meaningful moment of ecclesial communion was experienced with the visit of the Bishop of Viterbo, Most Rev. Orazio Francesco Piazza, to the community, as well as the meeting of a group of sisters at the diocesan curia. On this occasion, the Bishop presented the Superior General with a medal bearing the emblem of his episcopal ministry and the image of Our Lady of the Oak (Madonna della Quercia), patroness of the city, as a sign of closeness, esteem, and communion with the local Church.
Another significant moment was the meeting with collaborators, during which the main challenges currently facing the Congregation were shared. This space helped to strengthen the sense of shared responsibility and to embody, also at the institutional level, the call to feel and live as one body, where every vocation and every service contributes to the common mission.
We express our deep gratitude for the fraternal welcome and availability of the Viterbo community, which made it possible to live this Canonical Visitation in a climate of listening, openness, and communion. The fruits of these days encourage us to continue walking forward with hope, to be prophetic signs of closeness and hope, especially alongside those who suffer most.
