"Is this Part I of the Constitutions, as it stands here, ready for a vote?"-"Carried unanimously!"

"Is Part II ready for a vote, subject to these five editorial changes?"-"Passed unanimously!" (My neighbor murmurs to me, "Trusting God and the editorial team.")

Relieved applause. Noon at last!

Today we are reaping the fruits of our two years of preparatory work. The renewal of our Constitutions has been discussed at length with many Sisters. It has been a long and laborious process, but it has been worthwhile.

This afternoon, the focus will be more on substantive discussions; after all, we can't always just discuss legal texts.