From September 28 to October 1, the friars of the Province of St. Bonaventure met in assembly at Our Lady of Fatima Friary in Marytown (Chicago, Illinois, USA).
The friars have been conducting a two-year study on the strategic needs of the Province over the coming years (together with consulters from the Plante Moran Agency), and this assembly allowed them to finalize their Four- Year Plan (which included withdrawing from two apostolates in order to offer more flexibility in meeting the needs of the Province. The hope is to concentrate on larger, urban friaries which offer an opportunity for outreach to the poor.
This assembly was originally going to be an Extraordinary Provincial Chapter, but given the restrictions due to coronavirus, it proved impossible to gather enough friars to create a quorum for a Chapter (especially considering the fact that the friars of Australia are a Delegation of this Province).
On the evening of September 30, the friars of the assembly gathered in the chapel of Marytown to celebrate the diaconal ordination of Friar Thomas Anthony FETZ.
Friar Jude WINKLER, Assistant General for the CFF
