On April 3-18, 2018, Friar Carlos TROVARELLI, the Assistant General for the Federación Conventuales America Latina (FALC) made a canonical visitation to the Delegation of Ecuador. The Delegation belongs to the Province of St. Maximilian M. Kolbe in Poland (Gdańsk). In addition, he participated at the Guardian’s Assembly, which was celebrated during the octave of Easter at the San Maximiliano Kolbe formation house in Quito.
The friars of the Delegation in Ecuador hold a Guardians’ Assembly and a meeting of the Delegation Council every year. This year’s 2018 Assembly was devoted to working on the first Four-Year Plan of the Delegation. The Assistant General collaborated in the discernment and writing of the Plan. Its main purpose was “Defining and Reinforcing the Fraternal Life in Order to Build Up and Give Witness to the Conventual Franciscan Identity in Ecuador.” It also touched on specific areas, such as our Kolbean heritage.
During the Assembly, the Guardians of the friaries in Quito, Santo Domingo de los Colorados, Tulcán and Shushufindi, together with the members of the Delegation Council—Friars Michał PAGA (Delegate), Jesús Eudoro CEBALLOS BENAVIDES (Secretary) and Friar Michał SABATOWSKI (Econom)—reviewed the calendar of activities and looked at other aspects of the Delegation, such as youth and vocation ministry, initial formation, some juridical themes and various proposals in view of the development and internal organization of the Delegation.
During the canonical visitation to the communities, the Assistant General met with each of the confreres, including the postulants, some groups of faithful and some collaborators linked to our communities.
The presence of the Order in Ecuador is quite rich and varied. It has several outlets for its evangelization mission, such as its city and missionary parishes (Quito, Shushufindi and Santo Domingo de los Colorados), a Conventual Franciscan church (Tulcán), a formation house (Quito), social and humanitarian outreach (Santo Domingo de los Colorados) and assistance to the Militia of the Immaculate (M.I.), the Secular Franciscan Order (OFS) and prayer groups.
During the visit to the missionary community of Shushufindi in the Ecuadorian Amazonia, the friars joyfully celebrated the 40th Anniversary of priestly ordination of Friar Krzysztof KURKIEWICZ.
Friar Carlos TROVARELLI Assistant General for the FALC