On March 4-6, 2024, the Provincial Custody of the Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M. in Slovakia conducted an Extraordinary Custodial Chapter. The event took place in Brehov, Slovakia.
The Chapter was convened and presided over by the Provincial Custos, Friar Martin M. KOLLÁR. Eighteen confreres were present, including the Minister Provincial of the Mother Province of St. Anthony and Bl. James of Strepar in Poland (Cracow), Friar Marian GOŁĄB, and the Assistant General for the Foederatio Europae Mediae et Orientalis (FEMO), Friar Tomáš LESŇÁK.
The main task of the Chapter was to draft new Custodial Statutes, taking into account the revision of the Constitutions and General Statutes. In addition, the Capitulars worked on a new, long-term Custodial development project which, although not legally binding, is intended to help in discerning and planning for the future.
The Capitulars also discussed the outline of a plan proposed for the friary in Brehov and adjacent areas, presented by the architect Michal BRYNDZA. The friary is beginning to gain importance, particularly in view of the upcoming beatification process for Friar Štefan IGLÓDY, whose remains are located in the nearby village of Rad. By God’s Providence, on March 6, the day the Bishops’ Conference of Slovakia approved the opening of his beatification cause, the Capitulars made spreading the cult of the Martyrs of Eastern Slovakia the Custody’s priority.
Originally, the friary and church in Brehov were both entitled: “The Stigmata of St. Francis.” During the communist era, when all of the friaries were closed, the diocesan priests celebrated the patronal feast of the church on October 4, the feast day of St. Francis. When the friars returned to the friary after fifty years, they were unaware of the church’s original title. They found out later. On the last day of the Chapter, with the consent of the Minister Provincial, Friar Marian GOŁĄB, the Capitulars decided to restore the original title. It is worth noting that this coincided with this year’s 800th anniversary of St. Francis receiving the stigmata.
The Chapter concluded with a formal lunch. At that time, the friars celebrated the name day of Friars Tomáš LESŇÁK and Tomáš VLČEK, as well as the 30th birthday of Friar Peter KOZMA.
Friar Tomáš M. VLČEK
