0n January 19-23 and again on February 7-8, 2026, three continuing formation courses were held at the Kolbe Center – Villa Belvedere in Carini, Italy. The courses were organized by the Commission for Continuing Formation of the Italian Province of the Immaculate Conception (Sicily-Calabria).

Forty-five friars from the thirteen different friaries participated in the first two courses. The overall theme of the courses was “Conforming Ourselves as a Fraternity.”
The facilitator and speaker for both courses was the Vicar Provincial and President of the Commission for Continuing Formation, Friar Rocco PREDOTI, who lectured on the theme “Starting Again from St. Francis to Rediscover the Appeal of Our Vocation.”
Friar Emanuele RIMOLI, who spoke live from Assisi via an Internet platform, lectured on the theme “What is Perfect Joy?” The topics the speakers lectured about were further explored in workshops. Everyone appreciated the practical suggestions given on how to foster a sense of “shared spirit” in their personal lives and in their fraternities—conforming themselves to the charism of St. Francis with open hearts, ready to face the challenges of contemporary life.
The third course, held on February 7-8, was open to both lay people and friars. Forty-five people attended. Thirty-two of them were laypersons and thirteen were friars. The course was led by the Most Reverend Calogero PERI, OFM Cap., Bishop of Caltagirone, Italy. He lectured on the theme “Sharing in Francis’ Joy: Conforming Ourselves Together as a Franciscan Family.” Starting from the phrase in the Testament of St. Francis, “The Lord gave me brothers,” Bishop PERI invited the sons and daughters of Francis to live life in the spirit of Easter—passing into new life—cultivating a relational style with God, with their confreres, with the world, and with themselves.
At the conclusion of the course, two presentations were made. One was on “The Centenary of the Opening of the Mission in China in 1925” (book and documentary film), by Friar Paolo FIASCONARO. The other was on the upcoming “Leonardo VITALE Fraternity Park,” by Friar Gaspare LA BARBERA, about a park being built in Palermo, (Sicily) on land donated to the Province by the family of Leonardo VITALE, who was known as the first true mafia repentant, and who converted after a spiritual crisis.

Friar Paolo FIASCONARO

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