From the 3rd to 7th February, the friars of the "St. Stephen King" Province of Transylvania gathered to celebrate the Provincial Chapter. The Province is part of the COTAF Conference of the Order. The important Chapter event took place in the convent of Șumuleu Ciuc (Csíksomlyó), at the shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Csíksomlyó, one of the most significant spiritual destinations for the Hungarian-speaking Catholics in Transylvania and the whole world, with a group of just under forty friars.
The Chapter was presided over by Br. Peregrin Kálmán, who had also overseen the canonical visitation and who accompanied the dialogue and discernment of the capitulars. Present from the General Curia were Br. Konrad Cholewa, Definitor General, and Br. Antonio Iacona, Secretary General.
After the invocation to the Holy Spirit with the singing of the Veni Creator Spiritus and the completion of the initial formalities, the Chapter got to the heart of the matter with the listening to the Visitor's Report, followed by that of the Minister Provincial and the various leaders of the different areas and sectors of the Province. One of the most significant moments was the reading of the Letter of the Minister General, followed by the interventions of Br. Konrad Cholewa and Br. Antonio Iacona, who presented the thoughts of the Minister and the General Definitory on some important choices entrusted to the evaluation of the capitulars. Subsequently, a dialogue was opened between the friars present to discern the path of the Province.
The Provincial Definitory, which will lead the Province over the next three years, is composed of: Br. Erik Urban, Minister Provincial, Br. Szabolcs Orban, Vicar Provincial, and Br. Lorand Portik-Lukacs, Br. Leander Albert, Br. Marian Puvak and Br. Julianusz Gego, Provincial Definitors.
The Chapter sessions were alternated with well-kept liturgical celebrations and moments of fraternity, elements that fostered an atmosphere of prayer and communion. In addition, the intervention of Msgr. László Kerekes offered the friars a significant reflection on their service and mission in the Diocese.
The Chapter concluded with the voting of the mandates and orientations that will guide the Province of St. Stephen the King in the near future, thus giving impetus to the fraternal life and evangelical commitment of the friars in Transylvania.
