On November 3-15, 2024, the Minister Provincial of the Italian Province of St. Anthony of Padua (Northern Italy), Friar Roberto BRANDINELLI, made a canonical visitation to the Provincial Delegation in Chile. The visitation was made in view of the Provincial Chapter to be held in February of 2025.
On November 3-6, Friar Roberto met with the friars of the friary in Santiago. On November 7-11 he met with the friars of the friary in Curicó. During his visitation, in addition to meeting with each individual friar, he also met with the Most Reverend Fernando Natalio CHOMALÍ GARIB, Archbishop of Santiago, Chile, and the Most Reverend Galo FERNÁNDEZ VILLASECA, Bishop of Talca, Chile, together with the Parish Pastoral Councils of Santiago and Curicó.
On November 9, Friar Augusto Esteban URZÚA GONZÁLES became the first native friar of the Delegation to be ordained to the priesthood. He was ordained by the imposition of the hands of His Eminence Cardinal Celestino AÓS BRACO, OFM Cap., Archbishop Emeritus of Santiago.
From the evening of November 11 to November 13, both communities gathered in Santiago for their annual Delegation Assembly. The assembly began with Mass during which the friars renewed their vows. Next, they reviewed their community life in keeping with the Delegation’s 2024 Four-Year Plan. They also scheduled activities for 2025. They next reviewed their activities in recent months, such as the priestly ordination of Friar Augusto, the progress of the formation of postulants, the financial status of the Delegation, the national Franciscan Youth meeting, the youth mission, preparations for the 2025 Jubilee Year in Rome, the 30th anniversary of the friars’ presence in Chile, etc.
The final evaluation emphasized the pleasant atmosphere during the visitation and, above all, the importance of the Minister Provincial’s visit in guiding the Delegation’s path of discernment and in strengthening its community life.
Earlier, on October 12-22, the Assistant General for the Federación América Latina Conventuales (FALC), Friar Rogério PEREIRA XAVIER, made a General Canonical Visitation to the Delegation, in preparation for the 2025 General Chapter.
Friar Jack GINTING
