On September 14-19, 2021, a total of sixteen friars from the Province of Saints Cyril and Methodius in the Czech Republic and the Provincial Custody of the Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M. in Slovakia, took part in a fraternal formation meeting in Assisi. The Assistant General for the Federatio Europae Mediae et Orientalis (FEMO), Friar Tomáš LESŇÁK, was also present.
The program, provisionally called “Itineraries of Assisi: In the Footsteps of St. Francis,” covered various aspects of St. Francis’ life and experience. It studied the various stages of his life, starting with his birth and childhood, through his conversion and his practice of fraternal life in the early fraternity, and ending at his following of Christ, his glorious death and the legacy he left behind.
The objective of this formation program was to observe the city of Assisi from the perspective of St. Francis and his early companions, to experience the presence of St. Francis, to examine the places where he lived and to recognize him from the footsteps that he left behind.
The formation program was conducted with a community approach. In addition to the content provided during the presentations and the visits made to specific places, the program included other important aspects, such as informal fraternal meetings, discussions of topics that had not been addressed for a long time, visits to the Conventual communities of our confreres in Assisi, prayer, the joy of meeting, and more. Finally, the course gave the friars an opportunity to enjoy some active recreation together, namely, going for evening walks in small groups around the city, spending leisure time in a pleasant atmosphere, having conversations together, sharing experiences, etc.
The program was led by Friar Jerzy NOREL, the Guardian of the Franciscanum and Director of the International Franciscan Center for Dialogue (CEFID) in Assisi. Friar Jerzy was assisted by other friars in the same community.
At the end of the program, the friars departed filled with beautiful memories, grateful for the interesting and intensive meeting they had, and hoping to return again to the City of St. Francis.
Friar Jerzy NOREL
