Br. Antonius Duma takes possession of the parish of Santa Maria Draperis

On December 8, Br. Antonius Duma took possession of the Parish of Santa Maria Draperis in Istanbul, on the patronal feast of the Franciscan Order and of the International Fraternity for Ecumenical and Interreligious Dialogue in Turkey. Bishop Massimiliano Palinuro, Vicar Apostolic of Istanbul, presided over the celebration.
During the ceremony, the appointment of Br. Duma as new parish priest was read publicly and he made the profession of faith and oath of fidelity before the bishop and the community.  During his homily, Bishop Massimiliano thanked  former parish priest, Br. Eleuthère Baharanyi Makuta, for his service, and also for the apostolate that the Franciscan friars have been carrying out for several years in Istanbul.  In addition, he invited Br. Duma and the faithful to walk together to continue building up this community.

The Vicar Apostolic also recalled that the feast that is celebrated in honor of the Immaculate Conception is thanks to Franciscan tradition and theology, since the friars have maintained this tradition and clarified its theology.
At the end of the Eucharistic celebration, Br. Duma gave thanks for his appointment, recalling that this service is in response to the call of God.  He also recounted the story of his vocation which began in Indonesia, his country of origin, and that subsequently led him to serve in Istanbul.

Dogma of the Immaculate Conception

The Blessed John Duns Scotus offered a decisive explanation for this dogma: Mary is also redeemed by Christ, but in a preventive way, being preserved from sin “in anticipation of the merits of Christ, which made it possible to harmonize the Immaculate Conception with the doctrine of redemption “Potuit, decuit, ergo fecit” (it was possible, it was fitting, therefore it was accomplished).
The feast of the Immaculate Conception was established in 1476 by Pope Sixtus IV; Pope Clement XI made it universal in 1708. Pope Pius IX in 1854 solemnly proclaimed the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of Mary (Bull Ineffabilis Deus, 1854).