On Saturday May 29, 2021, a meeting was held for all aspirants, postulants and confreres in initial formation from all the formation houses in the Province of St. Joseph, Spouse of the B.V.M. in Romania. The event took place at the Franciscan Theological Institute in Roman, Romania.
The meeting began in the Petru Albert Hall with opening remarks from Friar Virgil BLAJ, Rector of the post-novitiate program, Friar Vlad-Bogdan BEJAN Rector of the postulancy program and Friar Irimia-Romică PAL, the Delegate of the Director of the minor seminary.
The friars very much enjoyed viewing a video message which the Minister General, Friar Carlos TROVARELLI sent for this occasion. In the video, Friar Carlos expressed his joy in being able to reach out to those in formation and conveyed his fraternal affinity with all the confreres who work in the formation field. He concluded with the blessing of the Seraphic Father St. Francis.
Since the Province of Romania is celebrating the 150th anniversary of its foundation this year, as well as the 30th anniversary of the opening of the seminary in Roman, the friars revisited the story about the return of religious formation to Romania after the fall of the communist regime. Friar Ștefan ACATRINEI, who lived through this experience, first as a clerical student and then as a formator, spoke about the development of the formation program during the last thirty years, with all of its joys and difficulties. While he spoke, photos from the 1990’s were projected, showing various moments during the construction of the Seminary in Roman and the development of the initial formation program.
The participants then gathered in the chapel of the Institute to celebrate Mass, presided over by the Vicar Provincial, Friar Ionel-Emilian DUMEA. In his homily, he recounted some moments of great spiritual impact during his time working with the Roma people and working as a missionary in Chile.
In the afternoon, the meeting included some time for fraternity and sports, which gave everyone an opportunity to talk, play and get to know each other better.
The meeting ended with Eucharistic Adoration and a final blessing with the Blessed Sacrament.
Friar Virgil BLAJ thanked everyone for their collaboration and participation in this wonderful day of joy and fraternal communion and reminded everyone that the main reason for being friars is Our Lord Jesus Christ and His most faithful imitator, St. Francis.
Friar Virgil BLAJ