For a few months, the Custos of the Provincial Custody of St. Leopold and St. Nicolas of Flüe in Austria-Switzerland, Friar Dariusz ZAJĄC and the Minister Provincial of the Mother Province of St. Elisabeth in Germany, Friar Andreas MURK, have been supporting and encouraging the friars at the friary in Fribourg, Switzerland, to promote community life and keep the friary going. For this reason, a meeting was held in Fribourg on September 6-8, 2023.
During their friary House Chapter the friars were updated on various building projects in progress. The lighting in the historic church will be renovated. Some areas of the rented part of the building have been restructured in order to generate more income. The friars also addressed, in detail, the question of how they can, and want, to live their Franciscan charism in a world that is changing.
They also took the occasion to say goodbye to Dr. Petra ZIMMER who was retiring. She had been hired as an archivist and librarian in 2009. During the reconstruction phase, she was responsible for the correct management of the precious archival items. In recent years, she ensured that all of the friary’s books were not only safe in the cultural heritage shelter―an underground bunker―but also accessible to the public. The library dates back to the 15th century and contains some 30,000 volumes, including dozens of medieval manuscripts.
Mrs. ZIMMER took her leave and the Guardian, Daniele BROCCA, thanked her for her reliable and competent work over the last fourteen years. He also introduced her successor, Lukas CAMENZIND.
Finally, on September 8, some friars visited the St. Joseph Convent in Muotathal. Two of the sisters there were celebrating their 50th anniversary of profession. Friar Igor SALMIČ, the Assistant General for the Centralis Europae Foederatio (CEF) was also present.
Friar Andreas MURK
