On February 23, 2023, the annual joint Definitory meeting of the Provinces of St. Jerome in Croatia and St. Joseph in Slovenia took place at the Saints Peter and Paul Friary in Ptuj, Slovenia.
The Ministers Provincial, Friar Milan KOS (Slovenia) and Friar Miljenko HONTIĆ, (Croatia), started the meeting with prayer and some introductory remarks. Then they presented a brief overview of the status of their Provinces over the last year, that is, since the celebration of their Provincial Chapters last year. In fact, each Province celebrated the first part of its Ordinary Chapter in February of last year and the second part the following April. Next, the friars reviewed the Provincial Four-Year Plan that each Definitory had prepared.
They Definitors then talked about the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Province of Slovenia. Another important topic they discussed was their experiences regarding youth and vocation ministry. The vocation situation in both Provinces has been rather difficult. After, taking a break, the Definitors organized and planned the next scheduled annual joint meeting of the two Provinces. The meeting has become a tradition and is open to all members of both Provinces. The Provinces alternate in hosting the meeting each year. This year, the Province of Croatia proposed hosting the event at its friary in Novi Marof.
The Definitors also discussed the St. Francis of Assisi Friary in Denmark. The friary belongs to the Province of Croatia, but one of the friars in that community is a member of the Province of Slovenia. Moreover, he was recently appointed to serve as the provisional Administrator of the Nuuk Parish Church in Greenland.
At the end of the meeting, the participants affirmed that these joint Definitory meetings are mutually fruitful and enriching, and should continue in the coming years.
In the afternoon, each Definitory met separately to work on issues specific to its own Province.
Friar Zlatko VLAHEK, Provincial Secretary
