On Saturday, July 3, 2021, the Secular Franciscan Order (OFS) of Italy elected its new National Council. The OFS Chapter Assembly met together in the significant setting of Assisi. The Capitulars elected Luca PIRAS as Minister, Donato MASTRANGELO as Vice Minister and Stefania MARINETTI, Luigi GRAVINA, Sara MENTZEL, Andrea PICCALUGA, Cosimo LAUDATO and Luca CASTIGLIONI as Councilors.

“The Spirit asks us to look to the future with our focus on serving each individual person. I hope to be able to do it together with the new Council. Where we are unable to do so, the grace of the good Lord will intervene.” These were the opening remarks of the newly elected Minister.
Luca PIRAS, Donato MASTRANGELO and Luigi GRAVINA are serving their second terms in the National Council. In fact, from 2017 to 2020, they have each held the office of Vice Minister and Councilor.
Generally, the OFS elective Chapter is celebrated every three years. It was supposed to have been held in May of 2020, but was postponed to 2021, due to the pandemic. The Chapter was conducted July 1-4, 2021, at the Capuchin Franciscan Domus Laetitae Retreat Center in Assisi. The Chapter also signaled a return to meeting face-to-face, after a year of social distancing.
“The Chapter is a time when we can meet together again and finally do so in person, in order to review what steps have been taken and to discover together what the Lord has accomplished with us or in spite of us,” said the outgoing Minister, Paola BRAGGION. She then added: “These four days are an opportunity for us to tune the instruments that we are and then let the Composer play His music. God wants to write another chapter in the history of the OFS of Italy, in this little portion of the Church. Let us let him work and give him space.”
The Secular Franciscan Order was born in the heart of St. Francis of Assisi in the 13th century. It sees itself as the heir and continuator of the lay dimension of the founder. When they make their profession, OFS members commit themselves to live the Gospel in the manner of St. Francis, within their secular state, observing the Rule approved by Pope St. Paul VI on June 24, 1978. The elective Chapter is the time when the Secular Franciscans gather in assembly and, inspired by the Holy Spirit, choose those to whom they will entrust the leadership of the Fraternity for the next three years. The eight elected councilors are called to guide the 1234 local fraternities spread across the national territory, whose members total some 18,304 Secular Franciscans.

OFS of Italy Press Release