Chapter of the Province “The Holy Martyrs of Gorcum” (Low Countries)

The Province of the Holy Martyrs of Gorcum in the Low Countries (the Netherlands and Dutch-speaking Belgium) held the provincial Chapter from 19 to 22 May under the leadership of General Visitator Br. Andreas Brands OFM, member of the German Province of St. Elizabeth. 

René Dinklo O.P. acted as moderator, which was a beautiful fraternal service of the Dominican Order to our Order. 

The Chapter has re-elected Br. Theo van Adrichem OFM (70) for a period of three years as Minister Provincial. With him, Br. Jan ter Maat OFM (46) as Vicar Provincial, Br. Fer van der Reijken OFM (64) and Br. Hans-Peter Bartels OFM (37) as Definitors will form the Definitorium for the next three years.

The Chapter further considered the policy for the coming three years of the Province. On the second day, there were also guests present, in addition to three young brothers (including our two juniors) and our care coordinator; these were guests from the broad Franciscan Family in the Netherlands and Flanders: a Capuchin Friar Minor, a Conventual Friar Minor, two Poor Clares Sisters, the National Minister of the OFS Netherlands, the staff member of TAU - Flanders and the director of the Franciscan Movement Netherlands.

An important topic will be, among other things, the long-term future of the Franciscan Friars Minor in Northwestern and Central Europe in general and Flanders and the Netherlands in particular. The Province projects TAU - Franciscan Spirituality Today, Franciscan Youth Work and the commitment to external communication will be continued.

In the past six years that Br. Theo van Adrichem led the Province, the merger between the Dutch and Flemish brothers was central. In the coming three years, new forms of collaboration with the Franciscan Friars Minor in our region, Germany in particular, will be central.

In the pictures:
1. The capitulars
2. The capitulars with the guests on the second day
3. The new Provincial Definitorium consisting of, from left to right, the brothers Hans-Peter Bartels, Theo van de Kerkhof, Jan ter Maat and Fer van der Reijken