On March 12-14, 2018, the Provincial Custody of St. Daniel and Companion Martyrs in Italy (Calabria) met in Amantea, Italy, to celebrate its Spiritual and Extraordinary Chapter.

In addition to the friars of the Custody, others attending the Chapter included Friar Joaquín Ángel AGESTA, the Assistant General for the Federazione Inter-mediterranea Ministri Provinciali (FIMP); Friar Cosimo ANTONINO the Minister Provincial of the Mother Province of Our Seraphic Father St. Francis in Italy (Naples); and his Vicar Provincial Friar Paolo GALANTE.
Two reflections were offered during the spiritual part of the Chapter. The first was presented by the Assistant General on contemporary Conventual identity and the current challenges facing the Order. The second was presented by Father Pino DEMASI the Calabrian representative of the “Libera” association, who illustrated the difficult social situation in Calabria and gave some good reasons for why there should be a significant Conventual presence in this periphery of Italy.
During the main part of the Extraordinary Chapter, the friars approved a motion to close the friary of the Immaculate Conception in Catanzaro, Italy. They also presented the current status of each community in the Custody and the Custody as a whole.
During the Chapter, the friars greatly appreciated being visited by their confrere, the Most Reverend Francescantonio NOLÈ, OFM Conv., Archbishop of Cosenza-Bisignano.

Friar Rocco PREDOTI