Sunday 27 July saw the start of the Chapter of the Custody of the Holy Land, an appointment that attracts friars and delegates from all over the region and represents a moment of particular importance in the life of the Custody.
In a Jerusalem wounded by violence, but still alive with hope, the Franciscan community gathers to entrust its steps to God and renew its commitment to peace, service and evangelical witness in the Holy Places.
The work began in the church of the friary of the Most Holy Saviour with the solemn Eucharistic celebration presided over by Br. Massimo Fusarelli, OFM Minister General, who in his homily emphasised that listening to the Word and prayer are the fundamental tools for all the friars, who are called to rediscover the deep root of their vocation to be «instruments of peace and reconciliation» in a context that, today, needs them more than ever.
At the end of the celebration, a solemn procession was held to the Chapter House, where the roll-call took place. In attendance were the incoming Custos of the Holy Land, Br. Francesco Ielpo, and the outgoing Custos, Br. Francesco Patton, together with the Visitator General, Br. Alojzy Warot, and the Vicar General of the Order, Br. Ignacio Ceja.
The official opening of the Chapter was marked by the proclamation of some fundamental texts of Franciscan spirituality: Chapter X of the Regula Bullata and the Testament of St. Francis. Following these readings, the Visitator General solemnly declared the Chapter open.
Afterwards, the letter sent by Pope Leo XIV was read out, in which the Holy Father expressed his closeness and secular support to the Custody of the Holy Land, as a living presence of the Franciscan Order in the heart of the Middle East.
The official announcement of the appointments of the Custodial Vicar and the Discretes of the Holy Land was made in the afternoon. Br. Ulises Zarza was appointed Custodial Vicar. The elected Discretes are: Br. John Kwesi Bohma, Br. Rodrigo Machado Soares, Br. Raimondo Girgis, Br. Zacheusz Drazek and Br. Piermarco Luciano.
On the second day of the Custodial Chapter, the assembly gratefully welcomed the contribution of the outgoing Custos, Br. Francesco Patton, who provided a detailed overview of his nine years of service of the Custody. In sincere and grateful words, he thanked the brothers for their shared journey and reflected on his experience of serving the Holy Places and the local Christian community with clarity and depth. Both he and the Visitator General emphasised the immense spiritual value of the Franciscan mission in the Holy Land, encouraging the friars to embrace their vocation with joy and responsibility in this unique and often complex context.
Source: www.custodia.org
