On November 11-14, 2024, the General Custody of the Sacred Convent of St. Francis of Assisi conducted a Pre-Chapter Assembly at the Sacred Convent. The assembly was meaningful and filled with activity. It focused on evaluating the last four years and collecting key topics and issues that the friars wish to address during the Custodial Chapter scheduled for February and March of 2025.
The assembly began on Monday morning with a retreat. Our confrere, the Most Reverend Giuseppe PIEMONTE, Bishop of Terni – Narni – Amelia, Italy, and former Custos of the Custody of the Sacred Convent, led the friars in a spiritual meditation. Monday and Tuesday afternoon were dedicated to reading the main reports prepared for the Chapter, including those from the General Custos, Friar Marco MORONI; the Minister General, Friar Carlos A. TROVARELLI, and reports on finances, initial and continuing formation, pastoral activities, and culture.
Wednesday afternoon was entirely devoted to group discussions, following the model of spiritual conversations promoted by the recently concluded Synod of Bishops on the synodality of the Church. Finally, Thursday afternoon was spent conducting discussions in assembly with approximately eighty friars present. The friars talked about the key topics that had emerged during the group discussions carried out on the previous days.
This experience was enriching for everyone and laid the groundwork for developing a brief Instrumentum laboris for the Capitulars, one that shall ensure that their reflection and discernment truly serve the issues that are important to the Custodial community. Those attending the assembly included the friars from the three communities of the Custody (the Sacred Convent, the Franciscanum, and Rivotorto); the Minister General; the Assistant General for the Federazione Inter-mediterranea Ministri Provinciali (FIMP), Friar Giovanni VOLTAN; and, on the last day, the Assistant General for the Federatio Europae Mediae et Orientalis (FEMO), Friar Tomáš LEŠŇÁK.
Friar Giulio CESAREO
