In a truly inspiring display of unity and solidarity, participants from a multitude of countries gathered at the Motherhouse of the Wheaton Franciscan Sisters for the 17th Plenary Council 2024.

Day after day, the FCJM Motherhouse in Wheaton Franciscan Sisters, USA was absolutely buzzing with participants of the Plenary Council Meeting 2024! They came from all over the globe, including Rome, the Netherlands, Germany, Brazil, Romania, Timor Leste, and Indonesia. Their journey was an exciting one, taking just one to two days by air flight! But there wasn’t a tired look in sight! Smiles, hugs, greetings, and sharing stories—it was a truly joyous scene! That’s what makes this community so vibrant and alive!

“Hello! It’s so great to meet again!” “It’s been seven years since we last met, but it feels like yesterday,” said one of the Indonesian sisters to the American sister with a big, warm smile as she greeted and kissed the sisters.

“It’s still like a dream that we meet again,” she continued, her eyes twinkling with joy.

During lunch and dinner, the sisters sat together at a table, with five to six sisters at a time. They look absolutely thrilled and share stories with each other. It’s amazing how they manage to communicate despite not being fluent in English! They understand each other and respond well.

There are 17 FCJM sisters taking part in the Plenary Council 2024 at Wheaton Franciscan Sisters! Finally, they all arrived on Friday, October 18, 2024, just three days before the meeting was set to begin!

We’re sending all of them our best wishes so they can attend the meeting in great health, spirit, and happiness! Let us pray that God will lead this FCJM Plenary Council Meeting and that it will produce many important things that can have a broad impact on the proclamation of the Good News! The FCJM sisters are shining examples of love and blessings to many people.

“The Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, burning with love, are the strength to bring blessings to oneself, the community, the Church, society, and all creation.”

Welcome to the Plenary Council. Best wishes for success, uplifting spirit, and blessings!

Written by Sr. Angela Siallagan and Translated by Fr. Matheus Ro, SVD