Vimercate – On 2 August 2026, at 9:30, the closing meeting of the Canonical Visit of the European Delegation of the Daughters of Charity Canossiane took place in Vimercate. The occasion was experienced as a privileged opportunity to remember the journey made, to share the reality of the different communities and to look to the future with hope, responsibility and a spirit of communion.
The canonical visit was lived as a time of listening, dialogue, knowledge and discernment. Along this path it was possible to learn more closely about the life and mission of the communities of the European Delegation, recognising both the richness of existing experiences and the challenges that arise in the current context.
A look at the presence of the Daughters of Charity Canossiane on the five continents
At the beginning of the closing meeting, a general overview of the presence of the Daughters of Charity Canossiane on the five continents was presented. This panorama made it possible to recognise the richness and diversity of the Canossian mission, present in different peoples and cultures.
The reflection helped to understand that, despite cultural and geographical differences, there is a single charismatic identity that unites all the communities: the desire to live and witness the charism of Saint Magdalene of Canossa, placing charity and service to the most needy at the centre of the mission.
In this context, the process of reconfiguration was also addressed, understood as a path of renewal and reorganisation of structures and presences, with a view to a more adequate response to current challenges and the needs of the mission. Reconfiguration invites us to look at reality with courage and realism, seeking new forms of presence, collaboration and service, without losing the identity and richness of the charism.
Profile of the communities of the European Delegation
One of the central moments of the closing meeting was the presentation, by the General Council, of the profile of the communities of the European Delegation visited during the Canonical Visit.
Through this presentation, a global reading of the reality of each community was possible, taking into account its history, the presence of the sisters, the mission carried out, community life, the context in which it is inserted and the challenges it faces.
The realities of the communities of Albania, Poland, Porto and Vimercate were presented. Each community, with its own identity and particular context, manifests a concrete expression of the Canossian charism in Europe.
The presentation made it possible to recognise the richness and diversity of the different communities, but also to understand that all are part of a single journey of communion, discernment and renewal.
Strengths and areas for improvement
After the presentation of the profile of the different communities, the General Council presented a synthesis of the strengths and aspects that need to be improved, on the basis of what was observed, listened to and experienced during the Canonical Visit.
A gesture of communion
The closing meeting concluded with a particularly significant moment. Representatives of each community offered the Mother General and the General Council a gift from their own community reality.
Each offering, simple but full of meaning, was more than a material gift: it was a gesture of sharing, gratitude and communion, which symbolically brought to the centre of the Congregation the life and mission of each of the communities of the European Delegation.
This gesture recalled that every community, with its history, its challenges, its joys and its hopes, is part of a single charismatic family.
Walking together with hope
The conclusion of the Canonical Visit of the European Delegation was thus more than the end of a visit itinerary. It was an opportunity to give thanks for the journey made, to recognise the present reality and to look to the future with hope.