On Tuesday, November 28, 2023, during Evening Prayer I for the Feast of All Saints of the Franciscan Order, four candidates from the “Franciscan Fraternity of the Risen One” were admitted to the novitiate. They are the Fraternity’s first novices. The Fraternity is part of the Comunità Frontiera [“Frontier Community”] a public association of the faithful.
This event coincided with the 800th anniversary of the approval of the Later Rule and took place at the Beata Vergine Maria Immacolata Madre dei Giovani oratorio chapel in the Città dei Ragazzi [“City of the Young,” a facility for at-risk youth and the headquarters of Comunità Frontiera] located in San Maderno, Region of Puglia, Italy.
Comunità Frontiera is a public association of the faithful under diocesan right, recognized by the Diocese of Piazza Armerina, Italy, home of the original headquarters of the Community, located in Pietraperzia, Sicily. The Community is affiliated with our Order. It was founded, and is led, by Friar Giuseppe DE STEFANO. Men and women, lay people and clerics can be members, while the “Franciscan Fraternity of the Risen One” is a group comprised of consecrated members within the Community.
The Most Reverend Marco TASCA, OFM Conv., Archbishop of Genoa, Italy, presided over the Rite of Admission to the Novitiate. He has followed the discernment of Friar Giuseppe and of the Community, recognizing its charism of going “outside the walls” and to the “frontier,” to serve disadvantaged minors and young people.
Also present was the Most Reverend Giuseppe PIEMONTESE, OFM Conv., Bishop Emeritus of Terni-Narni-Amelia, Italy; Friar Daniele MAIORANO, the Minister Provincial of the Province of St. Nicholas and St. Angelo in Italy (Puglia); some friars from nearby Bari, Italy; members of the Community; young people and adults.
Friar Giuseppe and Bishop PIEMONTESE will cover the theological-ecclesial dimension of the novices’ formation. Archbishop TASCA will cover the human and psychological-existential dimension. Friar Matteo ORNELLI, will cover the biblical dimension and finally, Friar Agnello STOIA, will cover the spiritual and Franciscan dimension.
The novitiate will last twelve months, in accordance with Canon Law. At the end of that time, the novices will profess their vows of obedience, poverty and chastity, within the “Franciscan Fraternity of the Risen One,” as consecrated lay persons.
The Fraternity recognizes it has received the gift of additional young people who are on the path of discernment and this makes us grateful to the Lord who has confirmed our charism and ecclesial authenticity.
We wish the new novices a fruitful year of novitiate. May Friar Giuseppe continue to be faithful to the gift he has received. We support this gift through prayer and through the fraternity the binds us to Comunità Frontiera, our sister community.
Province of St. Nicholas and St. Angelo in Italy (Puglia)
