On June 11-18, 2024, some senior friars from Poland attended a spiritual retreat in Italy.
Of the eight friars who participated, three were from the Province of St. Anthony and Bl. James of Strepar (Cracow), one was from the Province of the Immaculate Mother of God (Warsaw), and four were from the Province of St. Maximilian M. Kolbe (Gdańsk).
The friars spent their first day at the Seraphicum College in Rome. Next, they went to the Franciscanum friary in Assisi, and visited the friaries in Fonte Colombo and Greccio along the way. On each day, after Morning Prayer, there was an introduction to the topics of the day and, after breakfast, a pilgrimage to places associated with the life of St. Francis, where Mass was celebrated (the Basilica of St. Francis, the Portiuncula and the Church of San Damiano). After lunch there was time for rest, individual outings and personal prayer. The day concluded with Evening Prayer, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and a fraternal dinner.
On the way to the Shrine of the Stigmata of St. Francis, the friars visited places that commemorate various events in the life of St. Francis: the Carceri, Vallingegno Abbey and the town of Gubbio. This was followed by a visit to La Verna, where they stayed overnight. On the last day, they celebrated Mass in the Chapel of the Stigmata and on their way back to Rome they visited Arezzo.
The participants thank the Minister General and the Superiors of the Foederatio Europae Mediae et Orientalis (FEMO) for their contribution in organizing this retreat. They also expressed particular gratitude to the Guardians and friars of the Seraphicum in Rome and the Franciscanum in Assisi for their hospitality, benevolence and thoughtfulness, as well as to the sisters from Poland working in Arezzo, for their warm welcome. Everyone hopes this retreat project will continue in the years to come.
The creator of the spiritual retreat was the Vicar General, Friar Jan MACIEJOWSKI. The General Secretariat for Formation oversaw its implementation. The main idea was to offer a retreat to the friars of the FEMO Federation who desired spiritual renewal, paying particular attention to those who had never had the opportunity to visit the places associated with the life of St. Francis of Assisi. This is the second round of this type of retreat. So far, senior friars have been given the opportunity to visit the Franciscan sites. In the near future, representatives of different age groups will also be invited.
Friar Piotr STANISŁAWCZYK, General Delegate for Formation
