At the Franciscan Residence of St Anthony of Arredondo, Córdoba (Argentina), from February 25th to 28th, 2024, the Provincial Chapter of Mats was held in a synodal modality, a historical milestone for the life of our Province of the Assumption of Río de la Plata and for the entire Church.
Since last year, a team of friars and lay people was formed who began to plan the organization of the meeting. During that preparation time, materials were sent to each fraternity of the Province, volunteers from Provincial Projects, members of the Secular Institute, the Poor Clare nuns, lay people and those who follow our charism, with the invitation to remain focused on three questions that the Franciscan Order proposed: What characteristics of the charisma should we open ourselves up to today? What is the prophetic model of brotherhood in minority? And who and how do we serve?
Everything collected formed part of the base material for the work in the Chapter itself, where 14 friars and 13 lay people concluded the meeting by writing up and approving 10 specific proposals, which form part of the final document.
At the conclusion of these days of prayer and fraternal life, we recognized the richness and possibility of sharing life, without ceasing to see the difficulties we are faced with: different lifestyles, languages, life-journeys and worldviews.
We continue to value it as a new path that can open up the life of our charisma in Argentina and Paraguay. We feel that this sharing, this closer living together offers a real possibility of deepening our commitment of following of Jesus in the light of Francis and Clare of Assisi.
Br Diego Omar Figueroa, OFM
