On June 15-17, 2023, the General Definitory, as part of its thirtieth session, held its annual meeting with the Presidents of the Federations at the Friary of the Twelve Holy Apostles in Rome. Barely a year has passed since the friars were finally able to conduct this meeting with everyone physically present.
All of the Presidents took part, namely, Friar Obed Muriungi KAROBIA of the African Federation of Conventual Franciscans (AFCOF); Friar Milan KOS of the Centralis Europae Foederatio (CEF); Friar Michael HEINE of the Conventual Franciscan Federation (CFF); Friar Sidifredo de la Cruz CHAPARRO GUALDRÓN of the Federación América Latina Conventuales (FALC); Friar Bonaventura KALLUVETTUKUZHIYIL of the Federation of Asian Minor Conventuals (FAMC); Friar Marian GOŁĄB of the Foederatio Europae Mediae et Orientalis (FEMO); and Friar Gaspare LA BARBERA of the Federazione Inter-mediterranea Ministri Provinciali (FIMP).
The friars were glad to be able to meet together; to go from seeing each other on the computer screen to seeing each other in person. At almost every session of the General Definitory, its meetings with the Presidents had to be conducted online, with basic communications confined to a window of thirty or forty minutes. Two years after the last General Chapter, discussions with the Presidents have been focused on considering possible themes and other preparations for the Order’s General Chapter in June of 2025. Against the background of the theme of old and new wineskins (cf. Lk 5:37-39), the participants had important discussions about signs of vitality in the Order and the places where it is flourishing in the various Federations. They drew comparisons between the Order’s Federations that are growing, Africa and Asia in particular, and the challenges facing those in the Old World or the West, noting that these challenges can nevertheless be turned into opportunities for growth and inspire us to a more creative fidelity to our charism. Thus, the discussions conveyed a global awareness of the Church and the Order and our desire on each continent to serve the world as true Friars Minor Conventual. Indeed, there is more to come. On June 19-23, 2023, a number of the Presidents are staying on to participate in the second round of the fraternal “Midway Meeting” held at the Seraphicum in Rome. “Midway” refers to the midpoint of the current six-year term (now passed). The second round is for all the Ministers Provincial, Custodes and Delegates who were unable to participate in the first round held last January. It will be another opportunity for the participants to listen to each other and discern what steps the Holy Spirit is telling the Order to take next.
Finally, Friar Jude WINKLER, the Assistant General for the CFF Federation, was given a simple and fraternal farewell. After thirteen years of service, he has asked to return to his Province of Our Lady of the Angels in the USA. He will soon pass the baton to a friar from the same Jurisdiction, Friar Joseph WOOD. Thank you Friar Jude, for your generous and passionate service and witness!
Friar Giovanni VOLTAN, Assistant General for the FIMP Federation
