On December 11-13, 2023, at the end of the civil year, the friars of the Provincial Custody of the Immaculate Conception and Bl. Bonaventure of Potenza in the Philippines gathered to celebrate the Marian feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the secondary patroness of the country. The event took place at the St. Joseph Friary in Tagaytay City, the Philippines.
The three-day gathering began with a lecture by Father Norman Melchor PEÑA, SSP, PhD., about the spirituality of communications entitled: “Speak the Truth in Love.” It was followed by the presentation and approval of the Custodial Directory on the Use of New Media. The day ended with games and video chat with some Filipino friars who are assigned to posts abroad during the Christmas season.
On the second day, the friars conducted a Pre-Chapter Assembly on the Custodial Statutes. They divided into small groups and spent the whole day discussing the proposed provisions for the Statutes. During Mass that evening, the Provincial Custos, Friar Emmanuel GIVA, OFM Conv., presided over the solemn consecration of the Custody of the Philippines to the Immaculate Conception. The last day was a plenary session to go over the results of the work done in groups and clarify some points of the proposed provisions. The friars will gather again, from January 31 to February 2, 2024, for an Extraordinary Custodial Chapter on the Statutes.
Fra Emmanuel GIVA
