On October 5-7, 2023, the annual meeting of the International Commission for Formation took place this year online using the Zoom Internet platform. The sessions were conducted from 2:00 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. [Rome time zone].
The meeting was organized by the General Secretariat for Formation (SGF). All of the CIF members attended, including the Presidents of the Formation Commissions of the Federations, and the Rector of the Seraphicum International College in Rome. The Vicar General, Friar Jan MACIEJOWSKI, also participated. The main theme of the meeting was: “The Transmission of the Charism of the Order through the Formation of the Friars.”
Two speakers lectured on this theme, namely, Friars Jaime REY, OFM Cap., the Vice Secretary for the Capuchin General Secretariat for Formation; and Friar Igor SALMIÇ, OFM Conv., the Assistant General for the Centralis Europae Foederatio (CEF). After the lectures, there was a period for questions and discussion. Next, the participants gave reports on the transmission of the charism of the Order within their own Federations or at the Seraphicum.
At the end of the third day, after a summary of the meeting had been presented, it was decided, as requested by the Vicar General, that two meetings should be conducted in 2024. The first will be an online meeting in January to deal with the crucial topic of abandonment. The second will be an in-person meeting in May, held in Rome.
Friar Maximilianus SEMBIRING, SGF Vice Secretary
