From July 20 to August 17, 2025, the second novitiate program of the Federazione Inter-mediterranea Ministri Provinciali (FIMP) took place at the Conventual Franciscan friary located at the Sanctuary of the Sacred Hovel in Rivotorto [Assisi].
The purpose of the month-long program was to prepare friars who are about to profess their solemn vows. Ten friar candidates participated, namely, Friar Alberto LACOVARA of the Italian Province of St. Anthony of Padua (Northern Italy); Friars Alessandro D’ANTONI, Massimiliano COLA, and Michele DE GREGORIO of the Italian Province of St. Francis of Assisi (Central Italy); Friar Francesco IANNELLO of the Italian Province of the Immaculate Conception (Sicily-Calabria); Friars Domenico TORRE and Francesco Xinyi ZHAO of the General Custody of the Sacred Convent of St. Francis in Italy (Assisi); Friar Clément BERTHAUD of the Provincial Custody of St. Bonaventure in France-Belgium; Friar Mauro ZAMMIT of the Province of St. Paul the Apostle in Malta; and Friar Julius BANDA of the Province of the Franciscan Protomartyrs in Zambia.
The candidates were guided by Friars Thomas Marie André BOURQUEROD of the Italian Province of St. Anthony of Padua (Northern Italy) and Virgil BLAJ of the Province of St. Joseph, Spouse of the B.V.M., in Romania.
The main objective of this period of formation was to create a climate in which each participant could reflect on his vocational journey and on his choice to definitively profess his vows in the Order of Friars Minor Conventual.
Each week was structured to allow sufficient time for personal and community prayer; in-depth study of the topics presented by the speakers; weekly meetings with the formators; periods for discussion and fraternal communion; and making visits to significant places in the history of our Order and the Church, such as the Sacred Convent of Assisi; the places tied to the Little Flowers of St. Francis; the Hermitage of the Carceri (Assisi); the Monastery of the Poor Clares in Montone, Italy; the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels (Assisi) the Shrine of St. Angela of Foligno and the Church of St. Francis (Foligno, Italy); the Shrine of the Holy House of Loreto and the Basilica-Shrine of St. Joseph of
Cupertino (Osimo, Italy).
We also had the joy of being visited by the Minister General, Friar Carlos Alberto TROVARELLI, and the Assistant General for the FIMP Federation, Friar Colin Charles SAMMUT, with whom the participants shared a brief but intensive moment of prayer and fraternity.
At the end of the course, during the final discussion, the participants evaluated the journey they had undertaken and made suggestions that could be applied to the program in coming years.
We are grateful to God and to all those who, in one way or another, contributed to the success of this formation event. May we continue to support our confreres with prayer and fraternal affection, so that they may live each day faithful to the vocation they have received, for the glory of God and the good of his people.
Friar Virgil BLAJ
