With the motto "Fraternity, Reunion, Reconciliation and Healing", from Monday the 7th to Wednesday 9th October, the Franciscan Brothers of the Province of the Most Holy Trinity of Chile celebrated their Chapter of the Mats at the "Alvernia" Retreat House (San Francisco de Mostazal) 48 friars from the 15 Franciscan presences in the country participated.
This fraternal meeting is part of the process of Provincial Moratorium that the Province has been experiencing since 2022, at the request of the General Government. For this reason, the Chapter had the fraternal and motivational presence of the Minister General, Br. Massimo Fusarelli, OFM, and the Definitor General and Visitor General of our Province, Br. César Külkamp, OFM.
In his initial greeting to the friars of the Province, the Minister General reminded us that "the moratorium was intended to be a pause for a global look at their reality, with an orientation to their future (...) a global view of the reality of each friar, of each fraternity of the Province." In addition, he asked us to "continue working on the care of the path of each brother, the friar is at the centre. And in the perspective of mission", since "the seriousness of the moratorium will be seen precisely in this style: new relationships and openness to mission".
The methodology of the Chapter of the Mats was characterized by work in small fraternities gathered around a round table to live the conversation in the Spirit (synodal methodology).
In the first days of the meeting, the friars discussed and reflected on the results of the Active Listening work that was carried out in the month of June, motivated by Sr. Mariana Peña, psychologist and religious of Providence. This exercise sought to listen to the Spirit through the communities and neighbours, knowing and discerning his gaze on the life and mission of the Franciscan friars in Chile. Along with the motivations promoted by the friars of the Preparatory Commission, the capitulars were accompanied by the reflection of Sr. Sandra Henríquez, Teresian Carmelite. Her motivation sought to promote paths of encounter, reconciliation and reparation in the life of the Province.
On the last day of the Chapter, the brothers moved to the city of Santiago to make a pilgrimage from the Church and friary of St Francis of Assisi of la Alameda (headquarters of the Provincial Curia and the oldest Franciscan presence) to the Church and friary of the Franciscan Recoleta, where the mortal remains of the Venerable Br. Andresito rest, a credible witness of Franciscanism in Chile. From two or three, the friars who walked easily amongst and with the people who at that time were passing through one of the busiest streets of Santiago. The Eucharist was celebrated in the Franciscan Recoleta, presided over by Br. César Külkamp.
Br. Ronald Villalobos, OFM.
Communications Office Manager
