Be the Face of the Gospel; Change the Face of the World

The School Sisters of St. Francis are holding the Congregation’s General Assembly on the campus of St. Joseph Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, March 13 – 31. The General Assembly (G.A.) is an international gathering of representatives from all five provinces of the School Sisters of St. Francis: the United States, Latin America, North India, South India and Europe. During this event, which takes place every four to six years, the delegates are setting future directions for the Congregation and electing a new leadership team. The theme of the 2006 Assembly is, “Be the Face of the Gospel: Change the Face of the World.” A process involving all the 1,175 Sisters of the Congregation has surfaced five critical issues. These are the basis for discussions, decisions and new directions.

Over 40 Sisters are participating in the G.A. and hearing reports from each province, from the current leadership team, from financial staff and ongoing committees. The days are full of interaction for the Sisters in meetings, prayer and celebrations. Sisters live at the Motherhouse and other locations in Milwaukee, and all meetings are held in St. Joseph Hall where simultaneous interpretation is available. The three official languages of the Congregation are English, German and Spanish. By the end of the Assembly, through a discernment process, a new international leadership team will be chosen, to take office on July 1, 2006.