On October 13-15, 2025, midway through the 2023-2027 four-year term, the friars of the Province of St. Elizabeth in Germany conducted an Extraordinary Provincial Chapter.
The event took place at the friary in Schwarzenberg, Germany. Regrettably, the new Assistant General for the Centralis Europae Foederatio (CEF),Friar Vincenzo COSATTI, was unable to attend due to a last-minute impediment. However, he was able to briefly greet the friars through a video message, in which he also introduced himself and expressed his desire to meet them personally in the future.
Twenty-three friars attended the Chapter, which began with reports from the six friaries of the Province. The Minister Provincial, Friar Andreas MURK, expressed his satisfaction with the effort the Guardians had put into their reports. The reports gave an honest description of what was going on in each friary, pointing out difficulties and challenges while also being thankful and focusing on what went well and what was successful.
Friar Thijs MOONS reported on behalf of the Provincial Delegation in Holland, and Friar Bernhard LANG reported on behalf of the Provincial Custody of St. Leopold and St. Nicolas of Flüe in Austria-Switzerland. Friar Andreas MURK gave an A to Z overview, presenting his perspective on the communities in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Holland.
In the evening, the friars spent some time in silence during communal Eucharistic adoration. They reflected on their position within the community: Where do I stand? How do I feel about my vocation? Where might I be called to re-engage in community life?
With the help of “dialogue in the Holy Spirit,” they then addressed the issue of the Franciscan charism. Friar Andreas introduced the topic and referred to the Dutch author Rutger BREGMAN and his book “Moral Ambition.” In it, BREGMAN explores what impedes social change. His conclusions can be applied to the topic of our charism: the “Franciscan charism” always risks becoming the subject of many discussions and conferences, without truly affecting real life. BREGMAN states: “In this world, it’s not just what one thinks that counts, but also what one is willing to do to make it a reality.”
The friars discussed this in small groups and gained valuable insights through the synodal method of dialogue.
The friars also discussed a number of other topics, including financial matters and possible support for a mission project within the Order. They received a German translation of the decisions made by the 2025 General Chapter and from that, they were able to make a point by point analysis. They used Pope Leo XIV’s Apostolic Exhortation Dilexi Te as a lens to examine specific places in Germany where they might like to work in future.
One particular highlight during the Chapter was the friars’ visit to a large garden nursery near the friary in Schwarzenberg. The owner, Bernhard KLEIN, gave an impressive overview of the family-run business, an operation that grows millions of flowers each year and exports them throughout Europe. The guided tour gave the friars an understanding of the company’s innovative strength: the generations working in the company must always keep up with new trends. Furthermore, Mr. KLEIN expressed his conviction: “Complaining is useless!”
The Vicar Provincial, Friar Mateusz KOTYŁO, and another Definitor, Friar Richard Francis CHIMFWEMBE, presided over the Masses during the Chapter.
At the end of the Chapter, the friars reflected on who might be elected Minister Provincial in two years’ time. The reassuring conclusion they reached was that although the Province has become older and smaller, it still has a selection of friars who could take on that responsibility!
Friar Andreas MURK
