A new community of the Province of St. Joseph, Spouse of the B.V.M. in Romania has been inaugurated in Venafro, Italy.
On Sunday, October 6, 2024, the ceremony inaugurating the new Conventual Franciscan friary took place in Venafro. This event was attended by the Most Reverend Camillo CIBOTTI, Bishop of Isernia-Venafro, Italy; Friar Damian-Gheorghe PĂTRAȘCU, the Minister Provincial of the Province of Romania; four friars from the new community; many friars from Romania who work in Italy, many local priests, members of the Capuchin Franciscan friars who had been serving this community for the past five hundred years, the Mayor of Venafro, and various civil and military authorities. The ceremony also marked the installation of the new Rector of the adjacent Santi Nicandro, Marciano e Daria Shrine Basilica.
The ceremony began at 6:00 p.m. in front of the shrine and was conducted in a festive atmosphere, surrounded by many local faithful. Bishop CIBOTTI read the act of reopening the friary and handing it over to the Province of Romania. Afterwards, the keys of the friary were given to the newly appointed Guardian of the community, Friar Augustin VEREȘ. Mayor Alfredo RICCI gave and emotional speech, which was followed by a Solemn Pontifical Mass presided over by Bishop CIBOTTI. After the homily, Friar Augustin VEREȘ was installed as the Rector of the shrine and Friar Damian ALUCĂCESEI, his Vice-Rector.
At the conclusion of the Mass, Friar Damian-Gheorghe PĂTRAȘCU expressed his gratitude to the bishop, the faithful, and the friars, for their warm acceptance of this beautiful shrine. After the Mass, a fraternal agape meal was served in the internal courtyard of the friary. Everyone was cordially entertained and enjoyed delicacies lovingly prepared by the friars.
Next Sunday, Friar Ionuț TOTU, a member of the new community, will be installed as the Pastor of the Sant’Antonio di Padova Church in nearby Conca Casale, Italy, while Friar Rafael SUMĂNARU will become the Vicar Pastor at the Santi Martino e Nicola Church in Venafro.
We thank the Lord for this gift to our Province. May the friars be faithful to their vocation, following in the footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi and the holy friars of our Province, Venerable Friar Martin BENEDICT and Servant of God Friar Anton DEMETER.
Friar Damian-Gheorghe PĂTRAȘCU Minister Provincial
