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On 28 April, 35 sisters from around the world gathered at Ladywell Convent for the Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood (FMDM) General Chapter.  They were also joined by 7 of their Mission Partners from Singapore, Ireland and England. The theme for the Chapter was “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Mt 6.21). A representative of the FMDM writes that: 

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"It was an extraordinary moment of providence that as the whole church prayed with those gathered in Conclave electing Pope Leo XIV; the FMDM family was were gathered in our Franciscan Centre, Ladywell, also discerning our future directions and who God wanted to lead us.

"Over sixteen days we spent time in prayer, deep dialogue and discernment as we looked back over the past six years of our Life and Mission across the world, and discerned the invitations of the Spirit of God for the future.

"A key moment of any General Chapter is the election of those women who the Chapter Members discern are the ones God most desires to lead us into the new vision that was emerging.  

Those elected were Lucy Bello, Country Leader in Nigeria; Biatar Ndlovu from Zimbabwe, Facilitative Leader for FMDM Africa; Helen Doyle, who is Irish-Zimbabwean and is on the current CLT, and Elvine Msimuko, who is from Zambia and is currently on a leadership & formation programme in Dublin.

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"Please pray for our new team and our whole FMDM family that we may take up the invitations the Spirit offered us at our Chapter calling us to more authentic Franciscan women, faithfully proclaiming the goodness, mercy and beauty of God in our world so often scarred by violence, division and fear."

"St Clare and St Francis, pray for us."

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Source: FMDM‍