On June 15-19, 2026, the friars of the Provincial Custody of the Orient and the Holy Land, which encompasses Lebanon and Turkey, conducted the second part of their Ordinary Custodial Chapter. The Chapter was held at the Community of St. Anthony of the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart, located on the island of Büyükada, in Turkey.
Almost all the friars of the Custody participated in the Chapter. They were guided by the Assistant General for the Federazione Intermediterranea Ministri Provinciali (FIMP), Friar Colin SAMMUT, the Minister Provincial of the Mother Province of St. Joseph, Spouse of the B.V.M. in Romania, Friar Damian-Gheorghe PĂTRAȘCU, and the Provincial Custos, Friar Andrew Jeylan HOCHSTEDLER.
The friars arrived on June 15 and celebrated Mass followed by Evening Prayer. The next morning, June 16, the work of the Chapter officially began with an opening prayer and a spiritual introduction by Friar Colin SAMMUT. The Instrumentum laboris was then presented; it provided the foundation for some lively and well attended group discussions. The friars explored topics concerning fraternal life, mission, pastoral ministry, and the future prospects of the Custody. They shared experiences, proposals, and guidelines for the next four-year term.
On June 17, the discussion groups presented the results of their work to the assembly, encouraging broad dialogue among all participants. The Definitory subsequently incorporated the proposals into the drafts of the Four-Year Custodial Plan and the Chapter Motions.
On the morning of June 18, the assembly reviewed and voted on the Motions and the final text of the Four-Year Custodial Plan, a document that reflects the shared commitment of the Custody and will guide its journey in the years ahead.
In the afternoon of the same day, during the sixth and final session of the Chapter, the friars elected the Guardians and other officials of the Custody. Friar Petru VÂRGĂ was elected to his first term as Guardian of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Friary in Büyükdere (Istanbul, Turkey); Friar Iosif-Florin PETRILA was elected to his first term as the Guardian of the St. Helena Friary in Karşıyaka (Izmir, Turkey); Friar Michał SABATURA was elected to his second term as Guardian of the Friary of St. Anthony of Padua in Beyoğlu (Istanbul, Turkey); Friar Elias Paolo MARSWANIAN was elected to his second term as Guardian of the St. Francis Friary in Zahlé (Lebanon); and Friar Marian-Emanuel VĂTĂMĂNELU was elected to his first term as Guardian of the St. Anthony Friary in Sin El Fil (Beirut, Lebanon).
The Chapter concluded on June 19 with a Mass commemorating the deceased friars of the Custody and with the final meetings of the Custodial Definitory, during which the Definitors determined the composition of the Custody’s commissions and local fraternities.
This time of prayer, discernment, and fraternity was an important opportunity to strengthen communion among the friars and to shape together the future path of the Custody of the Orient and the Holy Land, in fidelity to the Gospel, in fidelity to the Conventual Franciscan charism, and in fidelity to the mission entrusted to the Custody by the Order and the Church.
The friars express their sincere thanks to the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart for their generous and gracious hospitality, as well as for their attentive support during both Chapter sessions.
Friar Marian-Emanuel VĂTĂMĂNELU
