The 1926 General Chapter

As we continue to journey through the General Chapters in the history of the Congregation of the Sisters of Christian Charity, we must pause slightly at the Chapter held in 1926, in which major structural changes were approved. We turn again to Als Antwort Auf Gottes Ruf, by Sister Anna Schwanz, SCC (Bonifatius, 2016, translated into English by Sister Mary Perpetua Rehle, SCC):

"Delegates at the General Chapter in 1926, who represented Germany, Czechoslovakia, North America and South America, came to a decision about a matter that had long been on the horizon -- the restructuring of the Provinces.  While maintaining the unity of the Congregation, this decision would facilitate government, as well as take into account the stipulations of the new Code of Canon Law."*

• North American Province:  "All foundations east of the States of Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama will form the North American Eastern Province.  Those States west of the above-named, in whose cities we have foundations, belong to the North American Western Province."
• South American Province: ". . . The South American Province [is divided into] the Chilean Province . . . and the Uruguay/Argentina Province."
• German Province:  "The foundations in Germany, which had been directly under the Generalate and governed by the Superior General will now form their own Province."
• Generalate: "The Generalate, whose relocation to Rome has been approved by the Holy See, will move as soon as the preparatory construction there allows" (pp. 47-49).

[Note:  The detailed history of these structural changes can be found in Als Antwort Auf Gottes Ruf  and in other sources.  Each of these structural changes has its own intricate, interesting history that is worthy of reflection. However, as they are not the goal of our posts at this time, they have been granted only a cursory glance.] 

*Here, the Code of Canon Law refers to the centralization and coordination of Church laws by a group of Cardinals commissioned in 1904 by Pope Pius X. As a result of this Commission, the first Code of Canon Law was promulgated in May, 1917 and went into effect on Pentecost Sunday,  May 19, 1918.  

______________________

Do you have questions you would like us to address in these posts?  Please reply to this post and let us know!

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.