January 22, 2010 - Official Statement from the Congregation of Family of St. John

Towards a General Chapter of the Congregation of the Contemplative Sisters of St John

For several months now, important questions concerning the government and divergent aspects of the vocation of the Contemplative Sisters of St. John has disturbed the unity of their Community.

After consulting with Cardinal Philippe Barbarin, Archbishop of Lyons and Ordinary of the Community, the Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life has asked Bishop Bonfils, retired Bishop of Nice, and former Provincial of the African Missions, to guide and accompany the Community during this difficult period and to help the Sisters to regain peace.

Bishop Bonfils will organize a General Chapter that will allow the Sisters to gather, to dialog and to deepen the charism of their Community. In a desire to avoid the departure of some Sisters, he has already invited the Priories to prepare this gathering by studying a working document that was sent to all.

The Congregation of the Contemplative Sisters of St John number 360 Sisters, spread throughout the world in 33 Priories. They were founded in 1982 by Fr. Marie Dominique Philippe, OP (1912-2006), who was also the founder of the Brothers of St John as well as of the Apostolic Sisters of St John.

These three Communities together form the “Family of St John,” which invites all its friends to pray. It asks that each one foster a spirit of prayer, and will give information as the situation progresses.