The Congregation of the Holy Spirit, in its ongoing journey of discernment, formation, and missionary renewal, convenes its ninth Enlarged General Council (EGC)—a sacred moment in the life of the Congregation that brings together delegates from Spiritan circumscriptions around the world. This historic gathering marks not merely a continuation of tradition but a renewed expression of our collective identity, shared commitment, and openness to the promptings of the Spirit.
Over the years, the EGC has been hosted across various continents, reflecting the global presence and evolving witness of the Congregation. The first three EGCs were held in Rome, Germany, and Portugal—centres that speak to the early institutional and missionary life of the Congregation. The fourth and fifth gatherings brought the EGC to the African continent—Tanzania and Senegal—where the Spiritan charism has borne rich fruit for generations. The sixth EGC was hosted in the United States, the seventh and eighth returned to Rome, the heart of the Church and the Spiritan Generalate. Now, in its ninth time, we find ourselves in Chevilly, France—a site steeped in Spiritan memory and legacy.
All delegates arrived safely, although, as is often the case with international gatherings, two delegates were unable to obtain visas. The fatigue of the journey was quickly dispelled by the warm welcome of our confreres from the Province of France. Thanks to their attention, generosity and sincere hospitality, the initial anxiety of the journey gave way to an atmosphere of joyful fraternity, shared prayer and a real sense of homecoming.
The choice of Chevilly is deeply symbolic and providential. It resonates strongly with the second phase of the Congregation’s Animation Plan, which is centred on deepening Spiritan spirituality and re-rooting our identity in the foundational charism of our founders. Chevilly itself holds a unique place in our history. Since 1864, it became a critical site for the formation of Spiritan missionaries—not only in the academic disciplines of theology and philosophy, but also in practical fields essential for mission work. This was a place where the missionary spirit was forged in the crucible of prayer, study, community, and practical engagement. In 2016, the entire property was renovated to provide a hospitable environment for both individual retreats and group gatherings, making it once again a place of encounter, reflection, and mission.
Even before the formal opening of the EGC, many delegates who arrived earlier were enveloped in a palpable spirit of communion. The sense of being part of one Spiritan family was experienced not only in greetings and meals but was also sacramentally expressed through acts of pilgrimage. On Saturday, June 21st, participants visited places of Marian devotion including Our Lady of Good Deliverance at Neuilly and Our Lady of Victories in Paris—shrines dear to generations of Spiritans and French Catholics alike. These visits were not merely historical or aesthetic encounters but acts of spiritual remembrance and intercession, invoking Our Lady’s maternal presence over the EGC.
On Sunday, June 22nd, a solemn Mass of welcome was held at the Mother House. This Eucharistic celebration served as a spiritual threshold to the week’s proceedings—reminding participants that all deliberation, reflection, and planning find their source and summit in the altar of the Lord who breaks and gives Himself as Bread and Wine and urges us to come out of our hesitations and limitations and trust in His ever-transforming power. Later that day, the delegates engaged in a contemplative walk through the streets of Paris, retracing the footsteps of Claude Poullart des Places. With hearts stirred by the life of our founder, we stood before the places that shaped his vision, surrender, and eventual founding of the Congregation. To walk where he once walked, to pray where he once prayed, is to immerse oneself anew in the founding spirit that continues to animate our Congregation centuries later.
The formal opening of the EGC took place during Solemn Vespers at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 22nd. Fr. Alain Mayama, Superior General, presided over the prayer and officially declared the Council open. In his deeply inspiring address, he reminded delegates of the pilgrimage we commenced together in 2021—a journey marked by storytelling, listening, and the collective discernment of God’s call for the Congregation today. Fr. Alain called attention to the prophetic words of Isaiah, “Behold, I am doing something new…” (Is 43:19), inviting all present to remain alert and receptive to the movements of the Holy Spirit in these times of great change and challenge.
He expressed profound gratitude: first to God for the gift of this gathering; then to the delegates for their availability and generosity; and finally, to the wider Spiritan family across the globe, whose prayers, reflections, and mission continue to enrich and uphold our common life.
Quoting the ever-relevant voice of Venerable Francis Libermann, Fr. Mayama stated, “The world has moved forward… let us therefore embrace the new order with frankness and simplicity and bring to it the spirit of the Holy Gospel…” (ND X, 151). These words served as both encouragement and challenge—to recognize that change is not a threat, but a call to renewal; not a rupture, but an invitation to respond with creativity, faith, and Gospel conviction.
He concluded his address with a vital call to discernment: “The Lord is always at work. It remains to us today to learn to discern the seeds of the new world—the Kingdom that God is building. We must know, believe, and understand the signs and traces of God today.” These words echo Pope Francis’ repeated exhortation to be a discerning Church, attentive to the movements of the Spirit and courageous in missionary engagement.
As we engage fully in the work of this Enlarged General Council, we do so with hearts open to transformation, committed to mutual listening, and trusting in God’s unfolding plan. Inspired by the witness of our brothers in the Province of France and buoyed by the spiritual and cultural wealth of Chevilly, we also hope that this gathering will be a source of renewal for them. There is a blessed reciprocity: those who welcome will be enriched by those they receive. “We have gathered from many circumscriptions, and through this encounter, may the grace of communion and missionary zeal continue to flow—bringing blessing to our confreres in Europe, and in France especially.”
In this sacred time of grace and gathering, may we, like our founders, be bold in faith, discerning in spirit, and united in love—ready to walk wherever the Gospel calls.
