The 2019-2025 Six-Year Plan of the Order will be published at the beginning of Lent. The Plan will remind us about the commemoration of some meaningful anniversaries which will speak to us and challenge us.
In 2020, we will commemorate a very significant date. Eight hundred years ago, a young Augustinian Canon named Fernando was attracted by the testimony of a small group of friar-martyrs, the Franciscan Protomartyrs whose liturgical feast day we celebrate on January 16. Fernando decided to become a member of the Friars Minor in order to die like them for the cause of the Gospel. He chose Friar Anthony as his name.
In 2021, we will be commemorating the date that marks Friar Anthony’s totally unexpected arrival in Italy (1221). With encouragement from St. Francis, Anthony would soon embark on new ways of evangelization at the service of the Church.
There are additional anniversaries which we will discuss later.
However, we have some other important dates we think you should keep in mind for now. The Government of the Order, along with a group of friars in charge of youth ministry, is developing a program for young people that will allow them to share these Antonian anniversaries together and prepare them for the 2022 World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal.
Here are some dates you should mark on your calendars:
800th Anniversary of St. Anthony of Padua
1220 – St. Anthony begins his Franciscan journey
1221 – St. Anthony comes to Italy and participates in the Chapter of Mats in Assisi
Program for Friars and Young People
• May, 2020 – A pilgrimage and workshop on St. Anthony of Padua for friars and young people in the Federazione Inter-mediterranea Ministri Provinciali (FIMP Federation).
• August / September, 2021 – A pilgrimage in the footsteps of St. Anthony and formation in view of the 2022 WYD in Lisbon for friars and youth ministers.
• 2022 – WYD in Lisbon
We will be providing more detailed information about this program soon.
Stand by for updates!
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