On January 24-28, 2022, the 2022 Ordinary Assembly of the Federación América Latina Conventuales (FALC), was held at the Casa Francisco de Sales retreat center run by the Oblate Sisters of St. Francis de Sales in Quito, Ecuador.
After two years of pandemic, the Ministers Provincial, Custodes, and Delegates of the Federation were finally able to meet face to face. The Assembly was hosted by the friars of the Provincial Delegation in Ecuador and was conducted in a fraternal and joyful atmosphere. The Minister General, Friar Carlos A. TROVARELLI, presided over the first day of the Assembly. At that time, the new Steering Committee was elected for the next four years. Friar Sidifredo de la Cruz CHAPARRO GUALDRÓN, the Custos of the Provincial Custody of St. Francis of Assisi in Colombia, was elected President; Friar José Hugo da Silva SANTOS, the Minister Provincial of the Province of St. Francis in Brazil, was elected Vice-President; Friar Mario CASTRO MARTÍNEZ, the Minister Provincial of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico was elected Secretary, and Friar Alberto Javier FONTANA, the Minister Provincial of the “Rioplatense” Province of St. Anthony of Padua in Argentina and Uruguay was elected Econom.
Friar Rogério PEREIRA XAVIER, the Assistant General for the FALC Federation, attended the entire Assembly online from São Paulo, Brazil. Others attending online included friars from the Province of St. Maximilian M. Kolbe in Brazil; the Provincial Custody of St. Bonaventure in Brazil; the Provincial Custody of the Immaculate in Brazil; the Provincial Custody of Our Lady of Coromoto in Venezuela; the Provincial Custody of St. Francis in Bolivia; and the Delegation in Chile.
The participating Ministers Provincial included Friar Juan Antonio ADÁNEZ SILVÁN of the Province of Our Lady of Monserrat in Spain, Friar Wayne HELLMANN of the Province of Our Lady of Consolation in the USA and Friar Wojciech KULIG of the Province of St. Maximilian M. Kolbe in Poland (Danzig). In addition, Friar Andrew MARTINEZ Delegate of the newly formed South West Delegation of the United States participated as a guest.
The Assembly concluded with a visit to the Shrine of Our Lady of El Quinche, where the friars entrusted the whole Order to her intercession and thanked God for twenty-six years of Conventual Franciscan presence in Ecuador.
Friar Sidifredo de la Cruz CHAPARRO GUALDRÓN
