In the recently concluded Chapter of Mats and, these days, in the Plenary Council of the Order held at Our Lady of the Angles in Assisi, there are many brothers and sisters who "have no voice", but who give voice to the Capitulars by providing a fundamental service for the success of the two great events of the Order of Friars Minor.
Interpreters, translators, verbalists, secretaries, cooks, technicians and support staff: people who perform functions necessary for the success of meetings and who often remain invisible.
So we have decided to give them a voice as well, to express our gratitude for their very important service.
Fr. Gil Noriega, OFM, interpreter during the events
Fr. Gil shared his experience as an interpreter both in the Chapter of Mats and in the Plenary Council of the Order. Coming from the Franciscan Missions Office in Waterford, USA, where he is in charge of fundraising for the OFM Missions, Fr. Gil was one of the three interpreters summoned for these important events.
During his service as a performer, he highlighted the extraordinary symphony of the Franciscan Family present: Poor Clares, friars, lay people and members of the Franciscan Third Order gave life to a true experience of Franciscan synodality. He highlighted the high level of commitment shown by all the friars of the various Conferences and the depth of the discussions, which led to innovative perspectives for the renewal of the Franciscan identity.
Fr. Filippo Campolo, OFM, recording secretary
As secretary of the Chapter of Mats and the Plenary Council of the Order, Fr. Filippo, of the Province of the Holy Martyrs of Calabria (Italy), described his role as a bridge between the present and the future. His main task was to document not only the words, but also the spirit of fraternity and grace that characterized these days of encounter.
Fr. Philip stressed that the work of the verbalists goes beyond the simple bureaucratic aspect: it is about preserving a history of salvation and the dream of St. Francis for future generations of friars. By carefully documenting events, they contribute to building a heritage of experiences and reflections that will serve as a source of inspiration for the future of the Order.
Fr. Ángel Edwin Montoya Montoya, OFM, responsible for the liturgy
As director of liturgy, Fr. Ángel shared his experience in organizing liturgical moments during these important events. He highlighted the special value of each celebration, which allows the Franciscan family to live intensely the Paschal Mystery of Christ through the Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours.
A particularly significant moment was the opening of the event with the invocation of the Holy Spirit in the Chapel of the Portiuncula, during the Easter Season, in preparation for Pentecost. The Chapter of Mats then concluded with the Feast of Pentecost, at which time the Spirit of the Lord blessed the friars and sisters before they returned to their respective realities.
One of the main challenges was the preparation of liturgical texts in different languages, so that all participants could feel fully involved in the daily celebrations. Thanks to the collaboration of the student friars of the International College of St. Anthony, prayers of the faithful were prepared in several languages for the main celebrations.
For Fr. Ángel, this experience represented a "vocational awakening", which allowed him to meet friars and sisters from different realities, united by the same Spirit and the desire to respond to the challenges of today's world through the life of the Order.
Our most sincere thanks to all of them, in the certainty that their generous service has contributed to writing an important page in the history of our Order:
Br. Sergiusz Bałdyga, OFM (CPO Secretary)
Br. Alvin Artemio Paras, OFM (CPO Deputy Secretary)
Br. Juan Isidro Aldana, OFM (Secretary of Mats Chapter)
Sr. Chiara Codazzi (Vice-Secretary of the Mat Chapter)
Br. Claudio Durighetto, OFM (Canonist)
Br. Joseph Condren, OFM (Secretary - English)
Br. Filippo Campolo, OFM (Secretary - Italian)
Br. Danilo Bellorin, OFM (Secretary - Spanish)
Br. Saulo Duarte, OFM (Bursar)
Br. Byron Chamann, OFM (Communications Officer)
Melania Bruno (Communications)
Claudia Cirulli (Communications)
Paolo Sbraga ( Communications)
Br. Salvador Burgos, OFM (Translation Officer)
Br. Marco Mendoza, OFM (Interpreter)
Br. Federico Gandolfi, OFM (Interpreter)
Br. Gil A. Noriega Muniz, OFM (Interpreter)
Br. Matteo Giuliani, OFM (Methodologist)
Br. Vjekoslav Milicevic, OFM (Liturgy)
Br. Angel Edwin Montoya Montoya, OFM (Liturgy)
Br. Keith Warner, OFM (Final Document Drafting Committee)
Br. Carlos Salto, OFM (Drafting Commission of the Final Document)
Br. Lorenzo Raniero, OFM (Drafting Commission of the Final Document)
The Staff of Domus Pacis
Br. Gil A. Noriega Muniz, OFM
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Br. Filippo Campolo, OFM
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