On May 26-28, 2025, the Province of St. Maximilian M. Kolbe in Poland (Gdańsk) conducted an Extraordinary Provincial Chapter. The event took place at the Society of Christ Center in Poznań, Poland.
The Chapter was attended by the Minister General, Friar Carlos TROVARELLI, the Assistant General for the Foederatio Europae Mediae et Orientalis (FEMO), Friar Tomáš LESŇÁK, the Delegates elected by universal suffrage, and the Provincial Governments of both the previous and current terms. The Minister Provincial, Friar Wojciech KULIG, presided over the proceedings.
The main focus of the Chapter was the post-novitiate formation of the friars. The Capitulars met with Father Jan HADALSKI (Society of Christ), Rector of the major seminary belonging to the same institute in Poznań. Another guest speaker was Fr. Mieczysław POLAK, Dean of the Faculty of Theology at the Adam MICKIEWICZ University in Poznań. He lectured on the history and current state of theology studies at the university. During their visit to the university, the Capitulars also met with Father Przemysław ZGÓRECKI, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Theology for Students and Education, who presented the Faculty and answered questions on theological formation.
Next, the Capitulars approved some Motions concerning the post-novitiate formation of the friars in the Province. These included a decision to transfer the formation program from the Conventual Franciscan major seminary in Łódź Łagiewniki, Poland, to the Conventual Franciscan major seminary in Cracow at the beginning of the 2025–26 academic year.
The Chapter amended the Provincial Statutes for organizational reasons, including the erection of the friary in Motala, Sweden, and the suppression of the Provincial Custody in Canada. The Chapter added provisions from the 2024 Ordinary Provincial Chapter, including the celebration of a Gregorian Mass for a deceased friar within the Conventual community and the establishment of a Provincial Legal Commission.
The Chapter updated the addresses of the Provincial houses and added the shrine in Zell, Germany, to the list of shrines under the Province’s care. The Chapter also introduced a regulation regarding the number of Delegates elected to the Provincial Chapter (thirty friars elected from three electoral groups, excluding friars participating ex officio).
In keeping with a Motion from the Ordinary Chapter, the Capitulars also addressed a topic concerning media. Professor Monika PRZYBYSZ from the Cardinal Stefan WYSZYŃSKI University, a member of the Institute of Media Education and Journalism within the Faculty of Theology, gave a lecture on the three levels of communication: communication with oneself, with others, and through personal creative expression.
The Chapter concluded with the singing of the Te Deum.
Friar Piotr MATUSZAK, Provincial Secretary
