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The Tempo Forte took place from 3rd to the 14th of July 2023 at the General Curia of "Our Lady Mediatrix", in Rome. An extraordinary session of work was held on 19 June.
The General Definitory, at the beginning of the session, allowed a time for personal narration, to deepen mutual relationships and share together their experiences since the last Tempo Forte; with the Legal Representative Br. Nicola RICCARDI, who dealt with some administrative and fiscal issues concerning the International College "St. Anthony" in Rome; he planned the meeting with the friars who work at the Holy See, scheduled for the 14th September 2023.
They heard from Br. Albert SCHMUCKI who gave some updates on the presence in the Entities of Delegates and Commissions for the Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Adults and the relative endowment of these Protocols and Policies for Protection; they read the Document, currently being published, on Protection in Initial and Ongoing Formation; they continued to work on the Particular Statutes of the General Definitory; they heard the Commission responsible for the development of the Fraternity in Stratford, London; They listened to Br. David CONVERTINO and Mr. Peter MAZZEI on fundraising and communication issues in the Provinces of the USA. They listened to updates on economic matters presented by Br. John PUODZIUNAS, the General Bursar, regarding the 2022 Activity Report of the Curia, the 2024 solidarity contribution, the pool of technical consultants who support the administration of the General Curia, the "St. Anthony" Soup Kitchen at the Antonianum in Rome, and pending tax issues. The definitory continued the verification of the presence of the Order in Russia and the Foundation; met with the Board of the OFM Fraternitas Foundation on the 2022 Activity Report of the Foundation. They heard from Br. Claudio DURIGHETTO the presentation of the work of the Working Table for an Administrative Regulation; They heard updates from Br. Fabio C. GOMES, Director of the Office of the Office Pro Monialibus, from Br. Daniel RODRIGUEZ BLANCO and Br. Taucen H. GIRSANG, Director and Deputy of the Office by JPIC and Br. Nikola KOZINA and Br. Baptist D'SOUZA, Director and Deputy of the Office of Development.
The General Definitory elected:
− The Government of the new Province of "Our Lady of Guadalupe", in the USA (Atlanta).
They appointed:
− Br. Giulio MICHELINI, Visitor General of the Province of "St Anthony of the Friars Minor", in Italy (Milan).
− Br. Luis Agusto FERREIRA LESSA, as Visitor General of the Autonomous Custody of the "Most Sacred Heart of Jesus", in Brazil (São Paulo).
They approved the shortlist of candidates for Minister Provincial of:
The Province "St. Francis Herald of Peace", in Indonesia and West Papua (Jayapura).
Of the following Entities they ratified the Acts of the elections that took place:
In the Chapter:
− of the Province of "Sts. Francis and James", in Mexico (Zapopan).
In the Chapter Congress:
− The Province "St. Paul the Apostle", in Malta (Valletta).
– The Province of "Blessed John Duns Scotus", in France and Belgium (Paris).
– The Province of "Sts. Cyril and Methodius", in Croatia (Zagreb).
– The Seraphic Province of "St. Francis of Assisi", in Italy (Our Lady of the Angels).
Out of chapter:
− The Guardians: the Province of "St. Juniper Serra", in Mexico (Tijuana),
They analyzed the Reports at the conclusion of the Canonical Visitation of:
− The Province of "St. Francis Solano", in Peru (Lima).
– The Pontifical University Antonianum, in Italy (Rome).
–The Formation Houses of the Province of the "B.V.M. of the Assumption", in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Mostar).
–The College St. Isidore, in Italy (Rome).
– “The Dependent Foundation of Our Lady of Africa ", in Congo.
They were updated on:
− The Conference of Brazil-Cono Sur, from Br. César KÜLKAMP, the Definitor for that region.
– The Conference COMPI and CONFRES, from Br. Cesare VAIANI, Definitor for that region.
− The Conference ESC, from Br. Jimmy ZAMMIT, Definitor for that region.
− EAC and SAAOC, from Br. John WONG Definitor for that region.
− The Dependent Custody of "Holy Proto-Martyrs of Morocco", in Morocco (Rabat), by Br. Ignacio CEJA JIMÉNEZ, General Delegate.
− The Province of "St. Francis of Quito", in Ecuador (Quito), by Br. Ignacio CEJA JIMÉNEZ, Delegate General.
They approved, sub conditione, the Particular Statutes or Regulations of:
− The Province of "The Incarnate Word", in West Africa (Lomé).
− The Custody of the Holy Land, in Palestine (Jerusalem).
– The Custody of "St. Francis", in China (Fengxiang).
− The Foundation of the "Immaculate Mother of God" in Angola, dependent on the Province of "The Immaculate Conception B.V.M.", in Brazil (São Paulo).
− The Foundation of "St. Francis", in Papua New Guinea.
They appointed:
− The Secretary General of the Pontifical University Antonianum: Br. Efren P. ORTIZ O.
− Member of the Scotista Commission: Br. Marko GULIN.
− The friars of the Fraternity of Stratford (London): fr. Stephen SCIBERRAS and Br. Reu GALOY; Br. Michael O'GRADY will remain in the fraternity for a first period to ensure a fruitful handover.
− Director of Acta Ordinis: Br. Byron A. CHAMANN ANLEU.
− Coordinators of the new forms of presence of Latin America: Br. Gustavo W. MEDELLA, Br. Cesar SOSA, Br. Pablo YESQUEN, Br. Ricardo A. ROQUE FIGUEROA, Br. Eric M. CÁCERES RIVERA.
They addressed the following practices regarding the change of legal status:
− Suppression of Provinces:
"The Assumption of the B.V.M." (Franklin),
“The Most Holy Name of Jesus" (New York),
"Our Lady of Guadalupe" (Albuquerque),
"St. John the Baptist" (Cincinnati)
and "The Most Sacred Heart" (St. Louis), in the USA, in order to erect the Province of "Our Lady of Guadalupe" (Atlanta), USA.
− Erection of Branch Houses: 1.
− Elevation of Branch Houses into Guardianates: 1.
− Reduction of Guardianates into Branch Houses: 1.
− Suppression of Houses: 5.
The following cases were dealt with: regarding separation from the Order:
− Exclaustration pardon: 6.
− Indult of secularization ad experimentum: 3.
− Indult of secularization pure et simpliciter: 5.
− Indult of dispensation from solemn vows: 6.
− Indult of dispensation from the burdens of the clerical state and solemn vows: 6.
They examined, amongst practices already in progress and new:
− Cases of graviora delicta: 4.
− Cases of Contra sextum: 2.
− Inappropriate behaviour: 1.
− Violation of the sacramental seal: 1.
They dealt with other practices of various kinds:
− Granting of obediences to return from a particular mission/service: 1.
− Granting and/or renewal of scholarships: 93.
− Granting of canonical licenses: 2.
− Miscellaneous handouts: 2.
− Hierarchical appeals: 2.
− Alienation of real estate/ex voto: 1.
− Transfers of the Provincial Curia: 1.
− Openings of novitiate houses: 2.
− Transfers of the Novitiate House: 2.
− Approvals of the Ratio Formationis of Entities: 2.
− Protocols for the Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Adults from Entities: 1.
At the conclusion, the General Definitory verified the trend of Tempo Forte.
The General Definitory encourages all Entities to:
− adopt a Protocol and Policy on the Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Adults.
− follow up the work of revision of the data of the Schematismus: the solidarity contribution will be calculated on the basis of this data.
The next Tempo Forte is scheduled from the 4th to the 15th September 2023; all the Secretariats of the Entities of the Order are reminded to send their requests to be submitted to the General Definitory within one week from the beginning of the Tempo Forte work: Any requests received at another time will be postponed to the following Tempo Forte; all were reminded that the General Secretariat, during the month of August – the month in which the Offices are closed – will work with reduced staff.
In praise of Christ and the poor man (Poverello) of Assisi. Amen!
Rome, 21st July 2023.
Br. Antonio M. IACONA, OFM
Secretary-General
