On Monday, May 5, to Friday, May 9, 2025, the Italian Province of St. Francis of Assisi (Central Italy) conducted the second part of its Ordinary Provincial Chapter.
The Delegates arrived on the morning of May 5, at the Seraphicum College in Rome. At 11:00 a.m. all the Capitulars listened to a catechesis given by Sister Katia RONCALLI, General Director of the Evangelii Gaudium Fraternity. She is also a professor at the Higher Institute of Religious Sciences of Assisi (ISSRA) and at the Pontifical Salesian University in Rome. A discussion period followed.
At 4:00 p.m., Friar Giovanni VOLTAN, the Assistant General for the Federazione Intermediterranea Ministri Provinciali (FIMP), presided over Mass. At 5:15 p.m., the first session of the Chapter began in the Sixtus V Hall. The Capitulars approved the daily schedule for the Chapter and heard reports concerning: the G. Moretti Graphological Institute in Urbino, Italy; the Intermediate Fraternity of Rieti, Italy; and the Board of Auditors (first part of the Provincial Chapter). Next, the Capitulars elected Friar Daniel Antu PALATTYKOONATHAN as the Provincial Econom and Friar Mauro VALENTINI as the Provincial Exactor.
The fifth session of the Chapter began with an exhortation from the Minister Provincial, Friar Francesco LENTI, who invited everyone to do their part, because only through shared commitment can we arrive at something beautiful for our whole fraternity. The Capitulars then read the introduction, the methodological overview and the first part of the Instrumentum laboris, “The Whole is Greater than the Sum of Its Parts.”
From Tuesday to Thursday, the friars spent the morning working on the Instrumentum laboris in small groups. In the afternoon, they gathered in assembly to present group summaries and vote on proposed motions. The fifth day began with Mass presided over by the Minister General, Friar Carlos TROVARELLI. The Capitulars dedicated the rest of the day to electing the Guardians and the Presidents of the Provincial Commissions.
The newly elected Guardians are: Friar Massimo MASSIMI for the San Francesco Friary in Foligno; Friar Marco BELLACHIOMA for the San Francesco Friary in Gubbio; Friar Benone BUTACU for the San Giuseppe Friary in Terni; Friar Alessandro PRETINI for the San Francesco Friary in Arezzo; Friar Franco BUONAMANO for the Santa Croce Friary in Florence; Friar Daniele SCIACCA for the Santi Pietro e Paolo Friary in Rome; Friar Paolo CIRINA for the Santi Pio e Antonio Friary in Anzio; Friar Damian FRUNZĂ for the San Francesco Friary in Viterbo; Friar Daniele GIOMBINI for the Santissima Annunziata Friary in Cagliari; Friar Bogdan FRANCZAK for the San Francesco Friary in Oristano; Friar Lucio MASSACCESI for the San Giuseppe da Copertino Friary in Osimo; Friar Andrea CANNUCCIA for the Sant’Antonio di Padova Friary in San Benedetto del Tronto; Friar Aurelio ERCOLI for the San Francesco Friary in Urbino; Friar Iulian BUDĂU for the San Francesco Friary in Pisa; Friar Salvatore SANNA for the Santa Maria di Betlem Friary in Sassari; Friar Danilo MARINELLI for the San Francesco Friary in Ascoli Piceno; Friar Gabriele LUPI for the San Tommaso Friary in Montedinove; Friar Luigi MORETTI for the San Pedro Apóstol Friary in Matanzas, Cuba; and Friar Danisandro SÁNCHEZ PEÑA for the San Maximiliano Kolbe Friary in La Habana, Cuba. In the afternoon, the Guardians met in the St. Bonaventure Chapel where they took their oath of office and made their profession of faith.
Subsequently, the Presidents of the Provincial Commissions were elected. They are: Friar Marco BELLACHIOMA as the President of the Formation Commission; Friar Flavio AGOSTINI as the President of the Youth and Vocation Ministry Commission; Friar Emanuele ANTINORI as the President of the Evangelization and Human Promotion Commission; Friar Roberto TAMANTI as the President of the Culture Commission; Friar Paolo CIRINA as the President of the Mission and Charity Commission; and Friar Daniel PALATTYKOONATHAN as the President of the Financial Commission.
After the elections, the Capitulars read and approved the Provincial Four-Year Plan proposed by the Provincial Definitory.
Finally, during the last session, the Capitulars commemorated the friars who died during the last four years and recited prayers of suffrage for them.
The fifth and final day of the second part of the Ordinary Provincial Chapter concluded with the singing of the Te Deum and the blessing of St. Francis imparted by the Minister Provincial and Praeses of the Chapter.
Friar Marco BELLACHIOMA, Chapter Secretary
Friar Daniele SCIACCA, Provincial Secretary
