Every December 8, the friars and men in formation from the Provincial Custody of the Immaculate Conception and Bl. Bonaventure of Potenza in the Philippines gather together to solemnly commemorate the Custody’s patroness.
This year (2018) the assembly was held at the Immaculata friary in Novaliches, Quezon City. It started with a conference presented by three friars who developed the topic of the “Marian Dimension of the Franciscan Charism.”
The Provincial Custos, Friar Francis Victor MATEO, made some introductory remarks and spoke about the way this particular topic was dealt with at the 2018 Extraordinary General Chapter. Friar Emmanuel GIVA expounded on the two Marian writings of St. Francis of Assisi, in order to examine the concept of the “Marian golden thread” which runs through the Order. Lastly, the National Spiritual Assistant for the Militia of the Immaculate (M.I.), Friar Andrew DATOY, gave an update on the provisions of the M.I. General Statutes approved in 2015.
The event concluded with the celebration of Mass at St. Maximilian Kolbe parish church. The presider was Friar Geronimo JACOBO, the local guardian. Friar-priests representing all of our communities concelebrated. Others attending included the Custody’s temporarily professed friars, the novices of the Federation of Asian Minors Conventual (FAMC), the postulants, some M.I. members and a few Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Assisi. A simple meal followed.
All of the friars, and our collaborators, are looking forward to a series of meetings next year that will commemorate our 30th Anniversary as a Provincial Custody.
Communications Office of the Custody
