The General Governments of the Brothers and the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary held a joint meeting from Wednesday, June 17 to Saturday, June 20, at the house of the Handmaids of the Sacred Heart, in Torricella in Sabina (Italy).
The meeting, which began with lunch on Wednesday and concluded after lunch on Saturday, was meant as a space for fraternal communion, shared reflection, and joint discernment on the challenges that the service of government brings to the Congregation.
The days were organized around three thematic axes illuminated by Pope Leo XIV's apostolic exhortation Dilexi te:
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Wednesday 17, afternoon: opening with activities for getting to know one another, communication, and integration, led by Susana and Stephen. In the evening, a screening of the film "Aftersun" (2022).
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Thursday 18: In the morning, a reflection led by Alberto on Religious Life in light of Dilexi te, focusing on no. 102 of the exhortation. In the afternoon, Patricia and Jean Blaise addressed Synodality and interdependence in light of Dilexi te, working on numbers 82, 84, and 111.
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Friday 19: In the morning, Noemí and Enrique presented a reflection on young people in light of Dilexi te, discussing the world of youth culture. What does God ask of us? In the afternoon, a session on areas of joint work, including Spiritual and Historical Heritage, the Poitiers Session ("Consecration to the Sacred Hearts"), the Secular Branch (the Spiritual Animation Team -SAT- is developing a strategic plan), Communications, among others.
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Saturday 20: Marking the anniversary of Our Lady of Peace and the sending of the first missionaries to Hawaii, ENCLAVE, and CIAL. We discussed the cause of the Founders, as well as the historical general archives from the founding period up to 1837, their location and accessibility. Evaluation of the meeting, calendar, and agreements. We closed the meeting with the Eucharist, presided over by Alberto.
Each morning began at 8 a.m. with the Eucharist and Lauds together with the community of the Handmaids. At the end of each afternoon, before dinner, the group gathered for half an hour of silent adoration in the chapel.
The evenings offered a space for recreation and fraternity: films, songs, and games, led by Alberto, Patricia, and Fernando. Pushpa Rani joined online. On the last day, the group also celebrated Susana Villarreal's birthday.
The next meeting of the General Governments will take place at Via Aurelia, on December 11.
The next Torricella gathering: May 22–25, 2027.
06/20/2026