On October 14-18, 2019, the “Rioplatense” Province of St. Anthony of Padua in Argentina-Uruguay held the first part of its 9th Ordinary Provincial Chapter. The Chapter was celebrated in the “Villa San José” retreat house, near the National Shrine of Nuestra Señora de Luján, Patroness of Argentina, in Buenos Aires. Thirty-one friars from the Province and some others, who were invited, participated.
The Minister General, Friar Carlos TROVARELLI, presided over the Chapter. The Assistant General for the Federación América Latina Conventuales (FALC), Friar Rogério PEREIRA, was also present. The invited friars included the Assistant General for the Federazione Inter-mediterranea Ministri Provinciali (FIMP), Friar Giovanni VOLTAN; the Visitator General, Friar Joaquín Ángel AGESTA CUEVAS; and the Minister Provincial of the Province of St. Francis in Brazil, Friar Aloisio DE OLIVEIRA.
The dynamics of the Chapter were characterized by productive and fraternal dialogue, in view of the great challenges the Province faces during its restructuring.
The new Minister Provincial, Friar Alberto Javier FONTANA, had already been elected on October 2, 2019, by letter in the third ballot. Friar Alberto Javier made his profession of faith on Wednesday, October 16, before all of the assembled friars. Friar Alberto Javier previously served as the Provincial Econom and a member of the previous Definitory. He was born in Buenos Aires on October 28, 1972, made his simple profession on May 2, 2005, his solemn profession on August 16, 2009, and was ordained to the priesthood on June 2, 2012.
On Thursday, October 17, the members of the Provincial Definitory were elected. They are Friars Anibal Jorge BONAVITA (Vicar), Martín Pablo BITZER (Secretary), and Álvaro GARCÍA VITALE D’AMICO, Alberto José STEPSYS, and Mario Darío CORREA (Definitors). Finally, the Provincial Econom, Friar Vicente Antonio NOVELLO, and the Provincial Exactor, Friar Alberto José STEPSYS, were elected.
Friar Rogério PEREIRA XAVIER, Assistant General for the FALC
