SCC Chapters: A Brief History (continued)

In November 1878, Mother Pauline had joyfully extended invitations to the Sisters who were to attend the  first General Chapter of the Sisters of Christian Charity.  Three months later, however, Mother Pauline was "deeply sorry" and "exceedingly regretful" to grant the request of Sister Gonzaga (Provincial Superior of South America) that the South American SCC's be excused from the first General Chapter (letter to Sister Gonzaga, February 28, 1879).  Mother Pauline's biographer and brother-in-law, Alfred Hüffer, explained:

"To Pauline's great distress, insurmountable obstacles prevented the South American Province from participating.  The Most Reverend Bishop of  Concepción had objected to a lengthy absence of the Sisters chosen as delegates, since the institutions of the Congregation [in South America] were yet so new.  In his diocese, the large convent in Concepción was still under construction and would be considered in special peril from a month-long interruption of 'upper management.'"

. . . 

"Pauline was deeply pained at being forced to renounce the participation of her dear Chilean daughters in the first General Chapter.  After she had discussed the problem with Bishop Conrad [Martin], however, and had received the advice of her Assistants, she sacrificed her heart's desire this time, too, eventually granting the requested dispensation. . . . 

"But how she thanked Divine Providence for the decision in question when shortly afterwards the news arrived of the outbreak of war between Chile, Peru, and Bolivia.  This conflict would have hindered the return of the Sisters for quite some time and would have made the absence of the Provincial Superior doubly threatening.  An additional notice from Paderborn [Germany] also generated painful regret.  Sister Anna, superior of the Institute for the Blind, had suffered so severely from a physical ailment that the doctor, in no uncertain terms, forbade the trip.  Even though Sister Anna had also expressed a great desire to take part in the General Chapter, Pauline in this instance also decided with a heavy heart to grant the dispensation.

"Through this double loss, the number called to the General Chapter stabilized at eight Sisters, who on Pentecost Eve, 1879, assembled with the Superior General at Mont St. Guibert.  These were:  Sisters Mathilde, Walburga, Augustine, . . . Sister Philomena, . . . Sisters Agnes and Wunibalda, . . . Sister Hildegard . . .  and Sister Lioba.

"On June 1, Pentecost Sunday, Bishop Conrad opened the General Chapter with a solemn liturgy and an impressive sermon.  The proceedings continued until June 18, . . ."  (A Short Biography (1892), pp. 104-105, translated from the German by Sister Celestine Hoedl, SCC. See pages 104-108 for a more extensive discussion of the details of the first General Chapter).

During the first General Chapter, Mother Pauline -- Superior General of the Congregation since 1849 --  was re-elected.  Little did the Sisters know at that time that a second General Chapter would be necessary in less than three years' time (November 1881) to elect a new Superior General to fill the vacancy left by the death of Mother Pauline on April 30, 1881.

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The Sisters of Christian Charity of the North American Eastern Province will hold our Provincial Chapter from February 14-18, 2019.  Please join us in praying the prayer for our Provincial Chapter.