On February 28, 2019, a fraternal meeting was organized among the friars belonging to various Asian countries, namely, India, Vietnam, China, South Korea, the Philippines and Indonesia. The meeting was held at the Conventual Franciscan Seraphicum International College in Rome.
Also attending was Friar Leo PAYYAPPILLY, the Minister Provincial of the Province of St. Maximilian M. KOLBE in India, along with some formators from the Seraphicum.
The meeting was set up by Friar Louis PANTHIRUVELIL, the Secretary General for Formation (SGF), with the aim of sharing Conventual fraternity in an “Asian way”.
After a brief introduction by Friar Louis, the meeting continued with the recitation of Evening Prayer. Next the friars spent some time talking about how they were doing, about their commitments and other services they perform. It was a good opportunity to listen to the experiences of those serving in different areas of service of the Order, and to hear from friars who are studying at various institutes around Rome.
Through this exchange of experiences, the friars were able to hear about the lives of others, about the joys and labors of the formative and scholastic journey. The friars felt a sense of closeness with their confreres as they prayed together and supported one another. Meetings like this can be a fundamental instrument for improving our formative journey as Friars Minor Conventual.
The meeting concluded with the sharing of a meal featuring the special flavors of Asia.
Friar Longinus JUDUNG, OFM Conv.
