On February 4-8, 2024, the Province of St. Joseph in Slovenia conducted a continuing formation event for its friars in religious or priestly life from one to thirty years. The event took place at the Bl. Anton Martin Slomšek Friary in Olimje, Slovenia. On the last day, February 8, all the friars of the Province gathered to celebrate a Province Day.
Friar Janez ŠAMPERL, the Vicar Provincial and Prefect for Formation, organized and led the formation event. Each day, the friars reflected together on two chapters of the Constitutions, through reading, meditation and discussion.
Professor Milena IVŠEK gave a lecture on a book by Alexia VIDOT entitled, “The Little Life of Maximilian Kolbe.” Friar Anton BOROVNJAK spent two afternoons lecturing on the beauty of the liturgy as discussed in the Encyclical Letter Ecclesia de Eucharistia and the Apostolic Letter Desiderio Desirevi. Friar Anton is currently a member of the Friary of St. Anthony at the Baths (“La Vigna”) in Rome, and is a doctoral student in liturgy at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross.
On February 7, there was a meeting and informal talk with the Minister Provincial, Friar Milan KOS.
During the Province Day on February 8, the work done over the previous days was presented to the friars. To inspire fraternal life and mission, the Minister Provincial drew upon Pope Francis’ homily for the 2024 World Day for Consecrated Life, which talked about how essential it is to be attentive to one’s interior life and to defend against the spirit of worldliness. The Minister Provincial also referred to Chapter XXIII of the Earlier Rule of St. Francis of Assisi.
Through personal holiness, may we contribute more to the growth of the friary and the Province. May becoming a saint be our life project and ardent desire.
Friar Vito MUHIČ
