On April 3-7, 2018, the traditional “Juniorentreffen” formation meeting took place for the post-novices of the Centralis Europae Foederatio (CEF) and their formators. The meeting was held at the friary in Schwarzenberg, Germany. As usual, the confreres from the Custody of England and Ireland also participated.
At the beginning of the meeting, Friar Bernhardin SEITHER, the Minister Provincial of the Province of St. Elizabeth in Germany, welcomed all those present. Friar Bernhardin is also the CEF President for the current term.
Twenty-one friars participated in the meeting. Five were from the Province of St. Jerome in Croatia, including their Minister Provincial, Friar Josip BLAŽEVIĆ. Four came from the Province of St. Joseph in Slovenia, including their Minister Provincial, Friar Milan KOS. Another five were from the Provincial Custody of Blessed Agnellus of Pisa in Great Britain-Ireland, including their post-novitiate formator, Friar Giles ZAKOWICZ. Also in attendance was Friar Daniele BROCCA, the Custos of the Provincial Custody of St. Leopold and St. Nicolas of Flüe in Austria-Switzerland; Friar Michiel VAN KOOTEN, a representative of the Netherlands Delegation and Friar Miljenko HONTIĆ, the Assistant General for the CEF.
The meeting was set up and organized by Friar Josef FISCHER, the Director of Formation for the CEF Federation.
The theme of the meeting was: “The Spirituality of Formation and the Franciscan Spiritual Journey”. The program was led by the Secretary General of Formation (SGF) Friar Louis PANTHIRUVELIL and by the executive editor of the publishing house Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Friar Giulio CESAREO.
One day was spent visiting various locations. The friars first made a pilgrimage to the Marian shrine of Buchen, which was entrusted to our friars of the Province of the Immaculate Mother of God in Poland (Warsaw). The Shrine is managed by Friar Adam SALOMON, the Guardian and a Delegate of this Provincial Delegation in Germany. Next, they visited the friary in the German Province in Schönau. They were welcomed by the guardian, Friar Leo BECK. Finally, they visited the friary and provincialate in Würzburg and did some sightseeing in the city itself.
In addition to time spent in conferences and prayer (Lectio divina), the participants enjoyed some fraternal time together.
Friar Miljenko HONTIĆ, Assistant General for the CEF
