As usual, the Capitulars celebrated Mass with Morning Prayer at 7:00 a.m. The newly elected Assistant General for the Federazione Intermediterranea Ministri Provinciali (FIMP), Friar Colin SAMMUT, presided. In his homily, delivered in Italian and English, he encouraged the friars to entrust themselves in faith to the will of God. We are often tested and go through tribulation, yet we do not know how to trust; we resist, thinking we can save ourselves by our own strength. Instead, we must allow the Lord to free us from all worry and restore His joy within us.
The Chapter proceedings began with continued discussion on Motion 10, which concerned our Conventual Franciscan charism. The Secretaries presented the group summaries that discussed charism, identity, and formation. As during the previous evening, the debate was wide-ranging and showed that we are getting at the heart of our identity.
The Capitulars then voted on and approved the text. In summary, it basically said that the Jurisdictions should offer an annual program of continuing Conventual Franciscan formation, to be carried out in the most accessible ways, including participating in the initiatives of the Seraphicum College in Rome, etc.
The friars should be given an opportunity to spend an appropriate amount of time in Assisi in order to deepen their understanding of our charism. Each community should schedule days dedicated to formation, reflection, and evaluation. Guardians should be attentive to the Franciscan formation of the friars, and the House Chapter should be valued in this regard.
A proposal was made to conduct a general fraternal Assembly halfway through the six-year term, focused on charism, Conventual Franciscan identity, mission, and new evangelization.
Jurisdictions were encouraged to establish a special welcoming community, possibly international, dedicated to vocation and youth ministry. This community should have a simple lifestyle, with a focus on personal and communal prayer, fraternal living, and a missionary spirit.
Next came a presentation by Friar Jan MACIEJOWSKI, the former Vicar General, on Motion 11, concerning the St. Bonaventure Project. He first focused on the history of this project. Over the years, it has evolved from forming future formators and teachers to forming friars around the world.
In particular, the Chapter asked the St. Bonaventure Faculty of the Seraphicum College to develop, in dialogue with the Government of the Order, new initiatives for specific formation on the Conventual Franciscan charism, both for initial and continuing formation. The proposals should be enriched linguistically, deepen Franciscan thought, and increase the output of publications. For its part, the General Definitory should offer the possibility of academic study to as many friars as possible, so that they may form a network of Franciscan reflection.
This Motion generated many comments from the Capitulars and was approved.
In the afternoon, before addressing the Motion on Mission, Friar Paolo FIASCONARO, the Director of the FIMP Missionary Center, presented the book, “Cina – l’alba missionaria dei Frati Minori Conventuali” [China – The Missionary Dawn of the Friars Minor Conventual] written to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the Order’s mission in China and the arrival of the first friars there. During his overview of the history of Conventual Franciscan missionary activity, Friar Paolo showed a short video about our presence in China.
The Secretaries of the groups that discussed mission and new evangelization were then heard.
Friar Dariusz MAZUREK, the Secretary General for the General Secretariat for Mission Animation (SGAM), presented Motion 12, which was aimed at rekindling the missionary spirit throughout the Order. To this end, the General Chapter proposed: prayer―because the Holy Spirit is the true agent of the mission; formation―in all its phases, in order to deepen the Franciscan missionary charism; new forms of evangelization; doing missionary work within the world of digital communication, also known as the “eighth continent”; promoting lay missionary volunteering; nurturing vocations from countries where our Order is not yet present; offering friars concrete missionary experiences; and promoting our Conventual Franciscan missions.
All this was aimed at opening at least one new mission in the next six years, in a country where we are not yet present, with the involvement of one or more Jurisdictions.
The discussion was very lively, especially concerning the willingness and feasibility of opening a new mission, particularly in Africa, Northern Europe, Asia, etc. The Minister General, Friar Carlos TROVARELLI, asked for a symbolic gesture in this regard, suggesting that despite our limitations, we bring a new missionary initiative to life now.
The Motion was approved and the Capitulars were then invited to attend a barbecue in the Seraphicum garden after Evening Prayer.
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