every Institute to return to the Rule, since the Rule and Constitutions provide a map for the whole journey of discipleship, in accordance with a specific charism confirmed by the Church” (VC, 37). No less inspiring were events of the said period that concerned our community directly: the beatification of Archbishop George Matulaitis-Matulewicz, Renovator of our religious community (in 1987), the beatification of two of our confreres—Frs. Anthony Leszczewicz and George Kaszyra, together with other martyrs of World War II in 1999; the beatification of our Father Stanislaus, Founder of the Congregation (in 2007), the celebration of the 100th Anniversary of Renewal of our Congregation (in 2009), and finally, Father Stanislaus’ canonization (in 2016). All these circumstances, marked by an intense work of the Holy Spirit in our religious community, brought about a deeper reflection on the charism of the Congregation and prompted us to seek a more adequate description of its identity and mission. In this context, the Church’s appeal to rethink our by-laws anew made us all more aware of the kairos for our Congregation and prompted—first the issuance by the General Chapter, in 2011, of the decree to create a Committee on Constitutions and Directory, and then, during the last Chapter, to develop and adopt changes in our by-laws. The guiding idea was to read the charism of the Congregation in the context of modern times and in fidelity to the founding spirit and the patrimony shaped throughout history, particularly through the work of Renewal. The knowledge of the Holy Spirit’s work in our religious community found its expression in legal form through changes to our by-laws made by the 57th General Chapter. The ratification of the new version of our Constitutions and Directory by the Holy See confirms the legitimacy of the Congregation’s path and legal solutions adopted by the Chapter. This becomes particularly important with regards to difference in wording, related to the identity and mission of the Congregation between the new and previously published Constitutions, which continues to be deeply rooted in the original tradition. Constitutions and Directory 68
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