On January 8-12, 2019, a meeting between the General Definitory and new Ministers Provincial, Custodes and Provincial Secretaries was held at the Friary of the Twelve Holy Apostles in Rome.
The participating Ministers Provincial included Friar Gaspare LA BARBERA from the Province of St. Agatha and St. Lucy in Italy (Sicily); Friar Igor SALMIČ from the Province of St Joseph in Slovenia; Friar Victor ABEGG from the Province of St Joseph of Cupertino in the USA; and Friar Wayne HELLMANN from the Province of Our Lady of Consolation in the USA. The participating Custodes were Friar Anton BULAI from the Provincial Custody of the Orient and the Holy Land; Friar Dariusz HARASIMOWICZ from the General Custody of St. Francis of Assisi in Russia; Friar Giorgio TASSONE from the Provincial Custody of St. Daniel and Companion Martyrs in Italy (Calabria); and Friar Jean-François AUCLAIR of the Provincial Custody of St. Bonaventure in France-Belgium. The participating Provincial and Custodial Secretaries were Friar Danilo HOLC from the Province of St. Joseph in Slovenia; Friar Joseph SCHENK from the Province of St. Bonaventure in the USA; Friar Luca GURRERA from the Province of St. Agatha and St. Lucy in Italy (Sicily); and Friar Piotr KARNIALIUK from the General Custody of St. Francis of Assisi in Russia.
After an introduction by the Minister General, Friar Marco TASCA, there was a PowerPoint presentation on the role of the Assistants General and the General Definitory. Next, there were personal meetings with the heads of the Secretariats and General Offices and a discussion on the 2018 Extraordinary General Chapter and the revision of the General Statutes, which are to be approved at the 2019 Ordinary General Chapter.
The meeting continued with a discussion on the economic management of the Provinces and local communities. Then, there was a presentation of the Promptuary of procedural guidelines for Provincial and Custodial Curial offices in their relations with the General Curia. It was followed by a talk about specific cases, which was conducted by the Secretary General, Friar Vincenzo MARCOLI, and the Procurator General, Friar Maurizio DI PAOLO. Next, there was an opportunity for the Ministers Provincial and Custodes to meet personally with the Minister General and/or the Assistant General of the Area, while the Provincial Secretaries met with the members of the General Secretariat.
Finally, the friars greatly appreciated making a pilgrimage to St. Peter’s Basilica, which included a visit to the Vatican archaeological excavations and the tomb of the popes. They also enjoyed praying at the Basilica of St. Bartholomew the Apostle and the New Martyrs on Tiber Island and meeting with the communities of the General Houses (Casa Kolbe, La Vigna, the Seraphicum College, the Vatican Penitentiary and the General Curia of the Twelve Holy Apostles).
The meeting was positively assessed by all the participants, who expressed their hope to always serve with the joy and enthusiasm of the Spirit.
General Secretariat
