Whilst the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on synodality was taking place in Rome, the friars of the Province of the Most Holy Redeemer in Croatia joined the synodal process in which the whole Church is engaged, celebrating the Chapter of Mats. In fact, the 800th anniversary of the approval of the Rule and the first Nativity scene in Greccio (2023), then the 800th anniversary of the Stigmata of St. Francis (2024), the creation of the Canticle of Brother Sun (2025) and the death of St. Francis (2026) are an opportunity to rethink and renew the Franciscan lifestyle and activity.
The Minister General of the OFM, Br. Massimo Fusarelli, on the occasion of the celebration of the anniversaries mentioned above, and before the holding of the General Chapter of Mats in 2025, invited all the Provinces of the Order to celebrate the Chapter of Mats so that they could also in this way manifest the richness of the Franciscan Family and reflect on our charism, communion and Franciscan mission. According to the indications of the General Government, in addition to the friars, the Sisters of the Society of the Franciscan School Sisters of Christ the King, the Franciscan Sisters of the Society of the BVM and the brothers and sisters of the Secular Franciscan Order also took part in this Chapter.
The Chapter had a purpose, that is, for the brothers and sisters of the Franciscan Family to feel close, to reflect on the state of the Franciscan charism, its presence and recognition in today's society, and to listen more attentively to those who are on the margins of our societies. It was held in Split on 22 and 23 October 2024, in the convent of the Servant of God Brother Ante Antić. The meeting began with a solemn Eucharistic celebration in the Church of the Most Holy Redeemer, presided over by the Minister Provincial Fr. Marko Mrše. The Secretary of the Chapter, Br. Ivica Jurić, then introduced the participants to the work of the Chapter and read a letter from the Poor Clare Sisters of the Monastery of St. Clare in Split, in which they expressed their support and closeness to all the members of the Chapter.
After the words of welcome, we listened to the first reflection given by Br. Siniša Balajić, master of the temporary professed friars and professor of Psychology of Religion at the Catholic Faculty of Theology of the University of Split, on the theme "Renewing our vision: what are the characteristics of our charism to open ourselves to today?". In the following two days of the Chapter, we heard two other speeches from two other professors of the same Faculty: Br. Domagoj Runje on the theme "What style of our journey: what prophetic style of Fraternity in minority?", and Br. Anđelko Domazet on the theme "Embracing the future. Testimony - mission: who and how do we serve?".
The speakers reflected on the events in the life of St. Francis, but also on the current challenges of the friars of our Province, such as the rapid socio-cultural changes in our society. Each reflection was followed by group work, then the presentation of the results of the work in the plenary session and a fruitful debate on the issues.
The speakers, leading the capitulars back to the sources, that is, to the events that gave a boost to the radical turning point in Francis' life – making him a free, joyful man and a permanent inspiration for all – sought ways to clarify how to arrive at the same experience of God and man, and consequently to a more authentic living of God's will in one's own life. In fact, St. Francis was not only a naïve romantic, but he considered the Gospel a program of transformation of his own life and of the whole of society. In the same way, the brothers and sisters of the whole Franciscan Family were called to actualize the Gospel in their lives and to be a visible proof of its timeliness for the people of today's world.
In fact, for eight centuries now, St. Francis has inspired not only Christians, but all men and women, regardless of their religious affiliation. Some consider him a tireless singer of God, a lover of God's creation, others as a theologian of the Incarnation, others as a free and self-realized man, an authentic Christian totally trusting in God and the meaning of life, still others a protector of the poor, of people on the margins of society, of ecology, and so on.
Since even today many men and women are fascinated by Francis' lifestyle and his authentic living of the Gospel, they seek to be part of the great Franciscan Family.
Touched by Francis' lifestyle and by the encounter with the Risen Christ, the friars and sisters gathered in Chapter invite us to recognize the marginalized brothers and sisters of our time on a daily basis, caring for them spiritually and helping them materially. In the same way, together with the Minister General, they invite us to look at the whole "cosmos that bears the stigmata of violent exploitation, but which still reveals the power of life, impressed by the Creator" (Letter of the Minister General for the Feast of St. Francis 2024).
The Chapter concluded with a beautiful phrase: weaknesses, fears and contradictions, our own and those of others, must never discourage us in the continuous process of discovering and living what God asks of us today
