On October 17-21, 2022, a continuing formation course for religious brothers was held at the evangelization community in Montevago, Italy, a friary in the Province of St. Agatha and St. Lucy in Italy (Sicily).

The course was created to ensure a continuity of formation that was mindful of the vocational distinctiveness of non-clerical brothers. The course was originally designed for the brothers of the Province of St. Nicholas and St. Angelo in Italy (Puglia), based on a course drafted by the continuing formation team in Puglia. The Minister Provincial of the Province of St. Nicholas and St. Angelo in Italy (Puglia), Friar Daniele MAIORANO, then proposed the course to the Ministers Provincial of southern Italy, who enthusiastically accepted it.
The methodology used for the course was to gain experience from the setting, to share with the friars and to think, indeed, to dream together and to welcome and be open to the continuous newness of the Spirit. Resource material for the course included the theme: “The Beauty of a Community That Grows on Faithful Listening to the Word and Knows How to Share the Treasures of the Spirit with All”, and the document of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, “Identity and Mission of the Religious Brother in the Church.”
The brothers participating in the course were Friars Alberto BARBARO, Andrea Antonio D’ALESSANDRO, Antonio GRASSI, Carmelo MARIA, Giuseppe Paolo VANTAGGIATO, Michele Massimiliano LOCRITANI, and Salvatore Pietro M. BUTTACI.
Friar Luca Mario GURRERA, the Guardian of the Maria Ss. delle Grazie Friary in Montevago, in collaboration with some lay persons from the community, presented the course and shared some personal feedback. The Minister Provincial of Sicily, Friar Gaspare LA BARBERA, gave a report on religious brothers from the perspective of Canon Law. The course was organized and coordinated by Friar Giuseppe TONDO.

Friar Giuseppe TONDO