Today was the Saturday Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Friar Rafał ZARZYCKI, Delegate of the Province of St. Maximilian M. Kolbe in Poland (Gdańsk) presided over the morning Mass in Polish. In his homily, he commented on the first reading taken from St. Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians (2Cor 5), which says we are ambassadors of the Lord and proclaimers of reconciliation. Then he spoke about the Gospel reading from Matthew 5, which states, “Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’”
The Chapter work began with the presentation of Motion 6, which concerns the Projects Office. The Coordinator of the Projects Office, Friar Valerio FOLLI, introduced the text of the Motion and related issues. The Motion assigns the General Definitory the task of reorganizing and strengthening the Projects Office, separating it from the General Secretariat for Mission Animation (SGAM) in order to open it up to social initiatives not directly related to missions. Working in collaboration with the other General Secretariats, the Projects Office is to assist with research, development, training, and reporting on new projects.
At about 11:00 a.m., there was a meeting with the Conference of the Franciscan Family. Its members include the Ministers General of the Franciscan First Order: Friar Carlos TROVARELLI, OFM Conv.; Friar Massimo FUSARELLI, OFM; Friar Roberto GENUIN, OFM Cap.; and Friar Amando TRUJILLO CANO, TOR; as well as Tibor KAUSER, OFS; and the President of the International Franciscan Conference of Friars and the Sisters of the Third Order Regular (CFI-TOR) Sister Daisy KALAMPARAMBAN.
In their presence, Friar Raffaele DI MURO, the Dean of the Faculty of St. Bonaventure, gave an award to our fellow professors and deans, Friars Orlando TODISCO and Francesco COSTA, for their academic work and service to the Order and the Church.
Following this, the Ministers General and Sister Daisy shared some reflections, engaging in a fruitful fraternal dialogue with the Capitulars. The topics that were discussed were primarily focused on concrete collaboration within the Franciscan world: among friars, laity, youth and inter-obediential communities. They also discussed departures from religious life and more.
The above-mentioned guests joined the Capitulars for lunch. At 4:00 p.m., the Capitulars returned to the Chapter hall to vote on Motion 6. After a few more comments and questions directed at Friar Valerio, the text was approved.
The Assistant General for the Foederatio Europae Mediae et Orientalis (FEMO), Friar Tomáš LESŇÁK, presented Motion 7. The Motion asks that the General Definitory begin a feasibility study for a new Office of Cultural Heritage, to be included among the entities of the General Curia and aimed at protecting and promoting cultural heritage, in service to the Order and its Jurisdictions. After discussion, the Motion was approved.
Finally, Friar Igor SALMIČ presented Motion 8 on the review and restructuring of the Federations. The General Definitory has extensively studied the problems facing the Federations, particularly in Europe. There is no single solution; many pathways exist for the Federations and European Jurisdictions to collaborate more, especially in the area of formation. The discussion of this topic and the vote were postponed until Monday.
Office of Communications
