From March 25 – May 25, 1969, the Second General Chapter was celebrated at the PDDM General House in Via Portuense, 739 in Rome (Italy). It was a “special” or “extraordinary” chapter, following the directives of Vatican Council II. Mother M. Scholastica Rivata was present as ex-Superior General, together with 38 other delegates (ex officio and delegates representing nations or groups of nations). Due to health issues, the Founder, Father James Alberione, was unable to be present for all the work during this time. On March 25, the PDDM Chapter members went to visit the Founder at the SSP General House. We report some of the details of this event from the chronicles of that time: “…Then we were received by Primo Maestro. He came downstairs to see us, in the chapel of the P.S.S.P. General House. This presence required effort and struggle for him, but we trust it also brought him consolation. He spoke with us for various minutes, recommending: the duty of silence; work in the seminary; fidelity to the Eucharistic vocation and to the Constitutions. Three times he repeated ‘I am praying for you’. In this period, his prayer and his suffering constitute for us, for the Pauline Family, a powerful mediation before God.” (Acts of the Special Chapter, 1969, pp. XXIII-XXIV).
In place of Father Alberione, his Vicar General, Father Luigi Damaso Zanoni, was present. Father Zanoni reinforced the “position” and the indispensible presence of the Sister Disciples in the Pauline Family saying: “…great opportunities are truly offered to the Pauline Family. But one thing we absolutely cannot do without is the presence of the Sister Disciples. I would say that all of the propaganda, all of the technical part, as well as the editorial part, at least partially, could be entrusted to other persons, but there is one element in the apostolic life, in the contact with souls, that no one can substitute. This is the element of grace. There is the one who sows, the one who waters, but it is only God who gives the growth, and God, in our Congregation works especially through you. (…) With you our words will not be useless, our magazines will not be indifferent for those who read them, the films or the radio programs will not be technical productions, but life-giving elements of the grace of the Lord. And this, because you are here…” (cf Acts of the Special Chapter, 1969, pp. 9-16).
In an atmosphere of intense prayer and active collaboration, the Chapter dealt with the topic of renewal, inspired by the counciliar and postconciliar documents, especially Perfectae caritatis (PC), which declares: “even the best adjustments made in accordance with the needs of our age will be ineffectual unless they are animated by a renewal of spirit. This must take precedence over even the active ministry” (PC 2e).
Following the Chapter, the texts of the Constitutions were prepared ad experimentum, together with the first Directory, and consigned to the sisters in February of 1973.
The Chapter assembly re-elected M. M. Lucia Ricci as the Superior General. The government was completed with the election of M. M. Tecla Molino as Vicar General; M. M. Pia Chiavassa, M. M. Gesualda Serra, and M. M. Immacolata Parrotta as General Councilors; M. M. Clelia Arlati as Secretary; and M. M. Epifania Brignone as Treasurer. On that day, April 3, Holy Thursday, Father Alberione was present to assist in the election of the Superior General and of her council. He would return on May 24, at the vigil of the closure (from the Diary of Father Antonio Speciale, unedited).
Six years later, following a motion voted during the Interchapter (Camaldoli [AR], February 2 – March 12, 1975) and approved by the Sacred Congregation for Religious and Secular Institutes, two additional General Councilors were added: M. M. Cormariae Brugiolo and M. M. Paola Mancini. They were nominated on December 10, 1975.
