On Thursday, April 19, 2018, the Italian Province of St. Anthony of Padua (Northern Italy) celebrated an Extraordinary Provincial Chapter.
Sixty Capitulars attended, along with some guests and auditors. The work of the Chapter began with prayer and an invocation to the Holy Spirit. Then the Chapter got underway in the meeting room and was initiated according to the process indicated in the directory.
Friar Maximilianus Kalef SEMBIRING, the Custos of the Provincial Custody of the Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M. in Indonesia, made a report on the status of the Custody and explained how the 2017 Custodial Chapter decided to approve a motion requesting that the Minister General elevate the Custody to a Province. His report gave us a sense of our grand history in the last fifty years and the enormous potential that the Conventual Franciscan witness expresses and can express in the future. There was much gratitude for the many friars who peopled that history, and for the graces that God showed through signs of providence.
After a short pause, the work of the Chapter resumed with the report by the Vicar Provincial, Friar Roberto BRANDINELLI, based on his recent canonical visitation conducted in March of 2018. His orderly report discussed current affairs in the Custody, expressed possible options, and brought up certain situations the Custody may commit to in the future.
Friar Valerio FOLLI (Provincial Definitor for the missions) gave a clear and concise budget report for the Provincial Custody in Indonesia—the admirable results of an economics course the friars of the Custody took.
Next, Friar Benedict BAEK, the Assistant General for the Federation of Asian Minors Conventual (FAMC) greeted the Capitulars on behalf of the Order and gave a positive evaluation of the work presented and done thus far.
After a discussion, the Capitulars went to lunch and resumed work at 2.30 pm.
They immediately went to work on defining a motion to be voted in the assembly. The chosen text read: The Extraordinary Provincial Chapter of the Italian Province of St. Anthony of Padua, OFM Conv., celebrated in Camposampiero on April 19, 2018, approves the request of the Provincial Custody of the Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M. in Indonesia to be erected as a Province (cf. Motion 7b of the 2017 Ordinary Custodial Chapter) and decides to forward it to the Minister General and his Definitory.
The motion was voted on and approved. The results were greeted with joy and applause and were welcomed with satisfaction by the Custos of Indonesia.
The work of the Chapter continued with the election of a new Provincial Definitor to be added to the present Definitory. At the end of the regular voting process, the Capitulars elected Friar Gilberto DEPEDER.
After some words from the Minister Provincial and other friars came confirmation that the prepared program was finished. With the approval of the Capitulars, the President of the Chapter decreed the Chapter was concluded.
Friar Andrea VAONA, Provincial Secretary and Chapter Press Officer
