Communiqué of the General Definitory concerning the December 2024 Tempo Forte

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The Tempo Forte took place from the 16th to 20th December at the General Curia "St Mary Mediatrice", in Rome; an extraordinary working session was held on the 27th November in Santa Cruz de la Sierra (Bolivia).

The General Definitory, in the first ordinary session of the work, experienced a time of personal narration; heard the Council of the Fondation of "St. Francis of Assisi" of Sudan and South Sudan to discern on a new openness; met: Br. Daniel RODRIGUEZ BLANCO and Br. Taucen H. GIRSANG, of the Office of JPIC, and Br. Iurii SEMKO and Br. Joe CONDREN, of the TMAV Office, for updates on the Offices; the "Animation Committee", with which he began a discernment towards the 2027 General Chapter; Fr. Darko TEPERT, Secretary General for Training and Studies, on the first of eight Letters on Formation, which will be delivered to all Ministers, Custodians and Presidents of the Entities of the Order; Fr. Joel ESPLANA SULSE and Br. Saulo DUARTE, of the General Bursar, for updates on economic matters; it has verified the work done by the Tempo Forte in September.

approved the shortlist of candidates for Minister Provincial of:

• Prov. "Holy Trinity", in Chile;
• Prov. “St. Francis”, in Africa, Madagascar e Mauritius.

analyzed the Relationships of the following Entities:

• Prov. “St. Casimir”, in Lituania;
• Autonomous Custody of "Our Lady of the Seven Joys, in Brazil;
• Studium Biblicum in Hong Kong.

approved the creation of an Entity in Eastern Congo and the opening of a presence in the "St. Francis of Assisi" Foundation of Sudan and South Sudan dependent on the Minister General. 

of the following Entities, ratified the Acts of the elections that took place: 

• In Chapter: Prov. "Immaculate Conception B.V.M.", in Brazil; Cust. aut. "Sacred Heart of Jesus", in Brazil. 
• In Chapter Congress: Prov. "The Holy Name of Jesus", Prov. "Immaculate Conception B.V.M.", Prov. "Holy Cross" and Aut. Custody of. "The Sacred Heart of Jesus", in Brazil.
• Out of Chapter, by: Guardians: Province of Ireland, 1; Prov. "Our Lady of the Angels", in Poland, 1; Prov. "St. Bonaventure", in Italy, 1.

has appointed:

• Br. Sharbel IKLADIOUS, Bursar of the Irish College "St. Isidore", in Rome.

approved, subject to condition:

• The SSPP of: Prov. "St. Michael the Archangel", in Ukraine; Prov. "Our Lady of th Angels", in Poland; Prov. "Sr. Philip of Jesús", in Mexico; erecting the "North Africa and the Middle East" Conference (the name has not yet been chosen).
• The Transitional Regulations of: Prov. of Ireland; Prov. "Holy Spirit", in Australia.

has dealt with the following cases of separation from the Order: 

• Exclastration: 1;
• Secularization pure et simpliciter: 1;
• Dispensation from the obligations of the clerical state: 2.

examined, among practices already in progress and new:

• Dismissal from the Order: 2.

It dealt with other practices of various kinds:

• Readmission to the Order: 1;
• Suppression of Houses: 6;
• Disposal of real estate: 1;
• Practices of an economic nature: 6.

The next Tempo Forte is scheduled from the 7th to 17th January 2025.
I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

To the praise of Christ and the Poverello of Assisi. Amen!

Rome, 24th December 2024
Christmas Eve

Fr. Antonio M. IACONA, OFM
Secretary-General