The General Chapter will take place from August 2–21, 2026. A General Chapter is the highest decision-making body of the Congregation. It elects the General Leadership for the next six years, and the General Leadership makes fundamental decisions for that term.
Participants in the General Chapter include the current officers and the elected delegates from the three provinces.
This photo shows the capitulars of the Extraordinary General Chapter of 2025.
Live Broadcast
The liturgy marking the handover of office by the General Leadership and the liturgy marking the installation of the new General Leadership will be broadcast live and can be viewed on this page.
Evening Prayer with Return of Office on Sunday, August 9, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.
Liturgy for the Installation of the new General Leadership on Monday, August 10, 2026, at 4:30 p.m.
The courage to build bridges
This is the motto of this year’s General Chapter.
This motto comes from a prayer composed for the 800th anniversary of the Transitus of St. Francis. Pope Leo formulated it and made it available to the Franciscan family.
Request for prayer
This process can only succeed with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. So we ask everyone to pray for us! Here you will find the prayer that Pope Leo gave to the Franciscan family on the 800th anniversary of St. Francis’ death, which we are praying in preparation for the Chapter.
Saint Francis, our brother,
you who, 800 years ago, went to meet Brother Death in perfect peace,
intercede for us before the Lord.
You recognized true peace in the Crucified One of San Damiano,
teach us to seek in him the source of reconciliation that tears down all walls.
You, who unarmed broke through the barriers of war
and of misunderstanding,
give us the courage to build bridges where the world draws boundaries.
In this time burdened by conflict and division,
intercede for us, that we may become peacemakers:
unarmed and disarming witnesses to the peace that comes from Christ.
Amen.
All professed sisters are involved in the General Chapter:
- through the election of delegates,
- by nominating candidates for the office of Superior General, Vicar General and General Councillor,
- by working on upcoming topics at sister meetings, mat chapters and provincial chapters,
- by submitting applications, suggestions and statements.
The Chapter’s Schedule
02.08. Spiritual Day to Prepare for the Event with Sr. Cleusa Aparecida Neves, CFA
Aug. 3–7 Reports and discussion on the state of the Congregation
August 8–9. Election preparations
August 10. Election of the new General Leadership
August 11. Feast of St. Clare
August 12–21. Work on topics and motions
According to the Constitutions, in addition to electing the new General Leadership, the duties of the General Chapter include, among other things:
- Review of the Franciscan life of the Congregation and its mission in the light of the signs of the times,
- Receipt of the reports on the situation of the congregation as a basis for further consultations,
- Review and, if necessary, amend the constitutions,
- Issuing, reviewing and amending articles of association,
- Processing of received applications, suggestions, and comments,
- Establishment of a province,
- Determination of the provincial territories,
- Division and merger of existing provinces,
- Transformation of a province into a region,
- Abolition of a province and disposal of the provincial assets,
- Advice on fundamental financial and economic matters, and, if necessary, amendment of the bylaws of the congregation’s civil legal entity,
- Determination of the delegate key for the next General Chapter.
Topics of this General Chapter
These result from the tasks described on the left, as well as from the applications of the sisters.
In any case, the following topics will be discussed:
- Our Mission
- Internationality
- Formulation of our charism.
What are we currently working on?
The election of delegates is complete.
The sisters have submitted their motions and suggestions.
These were translated and made available to all sisters. The sisters’ comments on the motions were also made available to all capitulars in the various languages.
On June 6, the Kaitularinnen held their first online meeting.
On July 27, the Congregation’s leadership will meet for its final week of sessions before the General Chapter. The moderator of the General Chapter, Sr. Ruth Pucher, MC, will join them starting on July 30.
