On January 22-27, 2018, the new Provincial Custody of Mary, Mother of Mercy in Central America fraternally hosted the annual Ordinary Assembly of the Federación Conventuales America Latina (FALC).
The event took place at the Marist Brothers’ Hermitage Retreat Center in San Salvador, El Salvador.
Ministers Provincial, Custodes and Delegates from the Jurisdictions of Latin American met together with Assistant General Friar Carlos TROVARELLI and the Vicar General, Friar Jerzy NOREL The event took place in an atmosphere of simplicity and fraternity. Several recently elected Superiors participated for the first time: Friar Carlos Antonio CATALÁN, Provincial Custos of the Provincial Custody of St. Francis in Bolivia; Friar Aloisio Antonio DE OLIVEIRA, Minister Provincial of the Province of St. Francis in Brazil; Friar José Andrés CASTRO FARAH, Provincial Custos of the Provincial Custody of St. Francis of Assisi in Colombia; and Friar Mario CASTRO MARTÍNEZ, Minister Provincial of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico.
Special thanks to those friars who recently completed service commitments: Friar Jhon Jairo MOLINA CASTAÑEDA, FALC President; Friar Gilson Miguel NUNES, FALC Vice President; and Friars Ronaldo Ramiro ARMIJO ZELADA and Francisco DÍAZ VALDEZ.
Father Rodolfo CARDENAL, a Jesuit at the Monsignor Romero Center in the Central American University (UCA), presented a key to understanding the socio-ecclesial reality of Central America. The new Custos, Friar Jorge DOBLES ULLOA and his Vicar Custos, Friar Isidoro de Jesús MEJÍA HERNÁNDEZ, made a joint presentation on the path toward unification which led to the creation of the new Custody of Mary Mother of Mercy and the celebration of its first Custodial Chapter, last December.
Regarding ongoing formation, Friar Carlos CORTEZ OFM Cap., lectured on the theme, “The Grace of Working”, a document which his Order produced in 2015. The same document was also used as a reflection tool by the General Definitory of our Order, during its meeting with the Presidents of the Conferences.
In keeping with previous Assemblies, this year’s Assembly also discussed initial formation. Friar Franklin DURÁN ZAMBRANO, Vice-Secretary General for Formation and Assistant General Friar Carlos TROVARELLI, offered a joint presentation on progress made so far.
The Assembly deliberated on, and unanimously approved, its formation plan. It will next be submitted to the Minister General and his Definitory, who may then confirm it and make it binding throughout the FALC.
The Assembly discussed the upcoming 2019 World Youth Day (WYD) to be held in Panama. Friar Jarosław WYSOCZAŃSKI, the Secretary General for Mission Animation (SGAM), made a proposal to involve the participation of the entire Franciscan family. Friar Erik MARÍN from the Provincial Custody of Mary, Mother of Mercy in Central America, informed us about last September’s meeting in Rome which involved several friars representing some communities engaged in the field of Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (GPIC).
Other topics were reviewed: the Course for Guardians, the Second Novitiate, the meeting for novitiate and postulancy formators, post-novitiate common formation, the Franciscan formation of our young men in formation, the Rivotorto Course, the FALC’s financial status, activity in the Ministry of Reflection of the Federación Conventuales America Latina (MiReFALC) and the structure of the FALC in the future. The Vicar General, Friar Jerzy NOREL, gave updates on the General Definitory’s latest decisions for the next General Chapter.
Since the terms of President, Vice-President and FALC Secretary were interrupted due to changes of Major Superiors in recent Chapters, a vote was put forward to elect the Presidency Council. It is comprised as follows: Friar Jorge DOBLES ULLOA, President; Friar Aloisio Antonio DE OLIVEIRA, Vice President; Friar José Andrés CASTRO FARAH, Secretary; and Friar Aldo Andrés CÚCCARO, voting member and Econom.
Sincere thanks to the confreres of the Custody of Central America and, in a special way, to the friars of the St. Anthony of Padua friary, whose generosity made this Assembly possible.
Friar Maurizio BRIDIO, former FALC Secretary
