This past summer the Society of the Sacred Heart held its General Chapter in Lima, Peru. From July 16th through August 20th, 86 Delegates from 32 Provinces, Districts and Areas around the world gathered to participate in the General Chapter. The central theme of this Chapter was RSCJ Spirituality: Dialogue around the  (Fire, Candle, Well, Meal…). Below you will find the archives of a special series that we ran each week during the Chapter.

One of the hardest things about our busy lifestyles is being present to those around us. One reason I’ve taken the pilgrimage to Guatemala the last two years is because as a pilgrim I am able to be present to where I am and I am open to being transformed. In this way being a pilgrim feels like meditation to me. It helps me see God in other people and it helps me see the barriers in my own heart. This leads to compassion and concern for the people of Guatemala rather than complete despair. And it is easy for me to despair.

Click below to follow along on a video tour of the shrine of St. Philippine.

I usually pray on my way to school, pray “through the neighborhoods.”  About a month ago I began to count the houses of worship on my route from Hyde Park to Englewood, a poor, high crime area on the city’s south west side.

The DPI/NGO Section held its regular weekly NGO briefing on 2 March 2006, which looked at the Role of the Media in Advancing Cross-Cultural Understanding.

Only a week in Nicaragua… What could one see, do, understand, in such a quick visit? Yes, the time was short, but I was able to glimpse the richness of a people, the beauty of the country, the commitment of my sisters. The visit also enabled me to join the rscj community in celebrating 25 years of our presence in Nicaragua.

...I woke up on April 3rd in N’Djamena, and there was no question of where I was! Africa: birds singing, a gentle breeze blowing, two mosquito bites! A second trip to Chad, again with JRS – a gift. This time, a journey with a purpose: the evaluation of the education projects in the two camps where JRS works together with the local Caritas agency.

...When I joined the study trip to Israel with thirteen wonderful people, sponsored by the American Israeli Friendship League, a friend said it would break my heart. Indeed it did. This is the most intractable heartbreaking conflict I have known. It is not a matter of right and wrong – rather there are two rights and a tragedy.

...We share here the list of this year's Solidarity Fund projects, noting (and sometimes picturing) the work and mission of the Fund for the coming year as well as the past year. We count on God's blessing for the continuation of the work so well begun, by so many people.

Kibera means "forest" in the original Nubian language. It is a place with a unique history. It was originally part of Maasai grazing land. However, between 1912 and 1928, the British colonials settled there the Sudanese Nubian soldiers who fought in WWI in service to the British Army.