On June 4-7, 2018, the Capitulars for the Province of Our Lady of Consolation in the USA gathered at the Holy Cross Retreat Center in Mesilla Park, New Mexico, for the second part of their Ordinary Provincial Chapter.
Friar Wayne HELLMAN, the Minister Provincial, led the friars in a reflection on the current state of the Province and how the friars must prepare for the future of the Province over the next two years.
The Chapter decided to convoke an Extraordinary Chapter in 2020, to complete this process of review and to plan for the coming years.
During this part of the Chapter, Friar Paul SCHLOEMER was chosen as the Provincial Econom.
The friars decided to pursue geothermal energy and solar panels for renewable energy use at Mt. St. Francis. They discussed their call to intercultural exchanges to which they have committed themselves over the past years (especially with the friars of Zambia, India, Central America and recently, Mexico).
They welcomed some of the refugees from the area to whom they have been offering hospitality. They invited further inter-Provincial and inter-Order collaboration in the coming years.
The hot weather in the area led the praeces to dispense with habits during the Chapter (the daily temperature reached 100 °F [38 °C]). In spite of this, the friars at Holy Cross, and the retreat center staff, provided a hospitable site for a peaceful and hope-filled discussion of the continuing call to conversion which the Capitulars have enthusiastically embraced.
Friar Jude WINKLER, Assistant General for the Conventual Franciscan Federation (CFF)