On September 23-27, 2024, the friars of the Delegation in Chile conducted a formation week.
On Monday, September 23, they began with “a morning of spirituality” led by Friar Antonio RAMINA, who spoke to them from the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua via video conference. He gave a lecture on: “The Christian Quality of Relationships According to the Franciscan Style.” Later that afternoon and the next day, the Provincial Secretary of the Italian Province of St. Anthony of Padua (Northern Italy), Friar Andrea VAONA, gave three lectures entitled: “The Path of Conforming Oneself to Christ: Between Fragility and Steps Forward, According to the Styles of St. Francis of Assisi and St. Anthony of Padua,” “St. Francis, Spiritual Father,” and “Spiritual Guidance in the Documents of Pope Francis.”
On the third day, which is traditionally devoted to fraternity and culture, the friars went to visit the Bahá’í temple, located in the foothills of the Santiago Mountain Range. Bahá’í is a religion that emerged in Iran in the mid-19th century as a result of the preaching of its founder: Bahá’u’lláh (1817-1892). It is a monotheistic religion which defends the existence of a transcendent and unknowable deity.
Speaking of the wounds of our history, the friars visited Villa Grimaldi, one of the largest detention and torture centers during the military dictatorship in Chile in the 1970s. While on the site, Friar Maurizio BRIDIO led the friars in a moment of prayer for the victims and their families.
On Thursday, September 26, Father Sandro MANSILLA, the Minister Provincial of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts in Chile, gave a lecture entitled: “From the Wounds of Our Church to Our Own Wounds: An Ecclesial, Communal and Personal Perspective.” He invited us to reflect communally and personally on the wounds the Church in Chile has experienced in recent years.
On the last day, Friday, September 27, the friars dedicated half a day to talk about topics related to the Delegation.
During the evaluation, all the friars were happy with the topics that were chosen and thanked all the speakers, especially the friars from the Santiago community who welcomed the friars in the spirit of fraternity. The postulants attended during the last three days.
Friar Jack GINTING
