On January 22-26, 2018, the Provincial Custody of the Immaculate Conception and Blessed Bonaventure of Potenza in the Philippines celebrated the second part of its Eight Ordinary Custodial Chapter at the St. Maximilian Friary in Parañaque City.
Thirty-two Capitulars were present along with Friar Benedict BAEK, the Assistant General for the Federation of Asian Minors Conventual (FAMC); and Friar Claudio IORIS, the Minister Provincial’s Delegate and Provincial Econom. The Friar-auditors present included Friar Jude WINKLER, the Assistant General for the Conventual Franciscan Federation (CFF); Friar Angelo PALUMBO, the Legal Representative of the Mother Province of Our Seraphic Father St. Francis in Italy (Naples); and Friar Irenaeus DAEP, Provincial Definitor.
Part II began with a report by Friar Andrew DATOY on the 2013-2017 economic performance of each friary in the Custody. This was followed by a presentation by Mylene SALUTA on the Fellowship for the Care of Creation Association, Inc. (FCCAI), as a mission partner of the Inter-Franciscan Minister’s Conference of the Philippines (IFMCP). Friar Jude WINKLER gave a spiritual introduction on the Word of God and Fraternity. The Chapter deliberated on the topics already selected and prepared during the break between Parts I and II. At the end, ten priority motions were approved.
The following guardians were elected for the 2017-2021 term: Friar Jeronimo JACOBO, Immaculata friary in Novaliches; Friar Emmanuel GIVA, St. Maximilian friary in Parañaque; Friar Daniel SUGATAN, St. Joseph friary in Tagaytay), Friar Christian ORNUM, San Agustin friary in Parañaque, and Friar Josel MARTINEZ, St. Anthony friary in Eastern Samar.
Those chosen as formators are: Friar Matthew FARAON, Novice Director; Friar Jeremiah ARGUELLES, Postulancy Director; and Friar Leonides MATEO, Vocation Director. Various chairpersons were selected for Liturgy, Formation, Finance and Works, Apostolate and Mission.
The Capitulars approved the Custodial Four-Year Plan entitled, Continuing to Build an Evangelizing Fraternity. As the title indicates, the friars wish to focus on being Conventual Franciscans, staying rooted in the Gospel and having a strong sense of fraternity, as part of an international Order and as a Custody in the Philippines carrying out our mandate to be communities that evangelize. Underlying all of this was the Capitulars’ desire for the Custody to become a self-reliant, OFM Conventual Province in the future. For the last session of the Chapter, Mass was celebrated for deceased members of the Custody, the Province of Naples and missionaries of the mission. Before giving the final blessing, Friar Francis Victor MATEO, the Provincial Custos, distributed letters of obedience to the friars.
Next year, the Custody will celebrate the 30th anniversary of its founding. The entire Custody is grateful to God, the General Curia, the Province of Naples and all other Jurisdictions of the Order for all the support it has received.
Friar Daniel M. SUGATAN, Custodial Secretary
