On September 3-7, 2018, the friars of the Provincial Delegation gathered in the Friary of the Immaculate Conception in Santiago-Chile for a week of formation as is done each year.
The theme of the meeting was, “the Outgoing Church”, which was inspired by the invitation of Pope Francis to the whole Church. Friar Roberto BRANDINELLI and Friar Alessandro ZOTTAREL, two friars of the Italian Mother Province of St. Anthony of Padua in northern Italy, presented some Church documents that touch upon the theme. Documents of special note were Evangelii Gaudium, Laudato Si’ and Amoris Laetitia.
At two different times, Fr Eduardo PÉREZ COTAPOS from the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts offered some thoughts to help understand the situation of the Church in Chile. Fr. Álvaro CHORDI, a diocesan priest belonging to the movement of Small Christian Communities, spoke about the reality that todays youth question the Chilean Church.
A layman, Sergio CÁRDENAS, led a tour of the Museum of Memory and Human Rights, where the victims of human rights violation, during the military dictatorship of Augusto PINOCHET are remembered.
The formation week was also an opportunity to reflect on the future of the Delegation and was a beautiful time to live fraternity and strengthen fraternal bonds among the friars. The 25th anniversary of the Religious Life of Friar Tullio PASTORELLI and Friar Giuseppe BELLINI was celebrated with joy.
On September 8th and 9th, the youth ministry leaders of our three parishes in Chile gathered to organize the next meeting of the Franciscan Youth, which will be held in Copiapó, from November 1-3, 2018.
Friar Jack GINTING
