Communiqué of the General Definitory concerning the Tempo Forte of July 2025

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The Tempo Forte of July took place from the 7th to 18th July at the General Curia "St Mary  Mediatrix", in Rome; another six working sessions were held between the 3rd  and 10th  June, at the Domus Pacis in Assisi, during the Chapter of Mats and the CPO, and on the 22nd  and 25th July, at the General Curia.

The General Definitory, in the first ordinary session of the work, experienced a time of personal narration; he verified the progress and contents of the Chapter of Mats, the CPO and the Meeting with the new Provincial Ministers and Custodes; he planned the Verification of the General Definitory in September and the Spiritual Exercises in 2026; met: the Director of the Communications Office and the Management Board of the OFM Fraternitas Foundation, for official updates; the General Bursar, for updates of an economic nature; the two lawyers for civil cases still pending in Switzerland; the Secretary General for Formation and Studies, for the drafting of the Letter on Formation.

The General Definitory has appointed:

• Visitors General :
  • Br. Matúš Pavol RACEK, from the Prov. "St. Wenceslas", in the Czech Republic;
  • Br. Siphelele GWANISHENI, Definitor General, of the Fond. "St. Francis of Assisi" in Sudan and South Sudan;
  • Br. Juan Carlos MOYA OVEJERO, of the Prov. Franciscan Sisters of Arantzazu;
     
• General Delegates:
  • Br. Sergiusz BAŁDYGA, for the path of: Prov. Franciscan Monastery of Arantzazu, Prov. "St James of Compostela" and Prov. "Immaculate Conception B.V.M.", in Spain, Prov. “Protomartyrs of Morocco", in Portugal, in view of the future single Province;
  • Br. Alfio B. LANFRANCO, for the Prov. "The Sacred Heart of Jesus", Prov. "Immaculate Conception B.V.M.", Prov. "Our Lady of Grace" and Prov. "The Seven Martyrs of Calabria", in Italy, in view of the new Province in 2028;
  • Br. Peregrin KALMAN, to accompany the Prov. of Transylvania "St Stephen the King", in Romania towards the status of Autonomous Custody in 2028;
     
• To other positions:
  • Br. Sergiusz BAŁDYGA, Secretary, Br. Juan Isidro ALDANA MALDONADO and Br. Praveen D'SOUZA, Vice-Secretaries of the 2027 General Chapter;
  • Br. Siniša BALAJIĆ (coordinator), Br. Carlos SALTO, Br. Cornelius BOHL and Br. Matthew BECKMANN, members of the Theological Commission to identify the models of growth and decrease of the Entities (pro General Chapter 2027);
  • Br. Claudio DURIGHETTO (coordinator), Br. Aidan McGRATH and Br. Juan Manuel HEREDIA HERNANDEZ, members of the SSGG Global Review Commission (pro General Chapter 2027);
  • Br. Miljenko ŠTEKO, Guardian of the International College "St. Anthony" (confirmation);
  • Br. Juan Isidro ALDANA MALDONADO, Rector of the Basilica "St. Anthony at the Lateran" (confirmation);
  • Br. Hector Gonzalo Collipal Osses, Rector of the students of the "Gabriele Allegra Fraternity" of "St. Anthony’s International College, in Rome;
  • Br. Kordian SZWARC, member of the JPIC Animation Committee;
  • Mr. Fabrizio ANGELELLI, member of the IRC;
  • Br. Albert SCHMUCKI, General Definitor, link to the Office for the Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Adults;

elected the Government of:

• Custody of the Holy Land;
• Prov. "Incarnate Word", in West Africa;
• Prov. "The Holy Spirit ", in Australia
• Prov. "St. Juniper Serra", in Mexico (part of the Government);

decreed the canonical erection of:

• Prov. "St Clare", in Mozambique;
• Cust. Dip. "Immaculate Mother of God", in Angola;

approved the shortlist of candidates for Minister Provincial of:

• Prov. "St. Francis of Assisi", in Brazil;
• Prov. "St. Michael the Archangel", in Indonesia;
• Prov. "Assumption of the B.V.M. of the Rio de la Plata", in Argentina;
• Prov. “St. Francis Solano”, in Argentina;
• Erigenda Prov. "St Clare", in Mozambique;
• Cust. aut. “St. Anthony”, in Singapore, Malesia e Brunei;

analyzed the Report:

• of the Visitor General:
  • International College "St Anthony", in Rome;
  • Prov. "St. Juniper Serra", in Mexico;
  • Prov. "The Holy Family", in Egypt;
  • Prov. of Transylvania "St Stephen the King", in Romania;
  • Prov. "Bl. John Duns Scotus", in France and Belgium;
  • Prov. "St James of Compostela", in Spain;
  • Cust. "Protomartyrs of Morocco", in Morocco;
  • Prov. "The Seven Martyrs of Calabria", Prov. "Our Lady of Grace", in Italy, Prov. “Sacred Heart of Jesus", in Italy;
  • Prov. "Holy Cross", in Slovenia;
  • Prov. "Immaculate Conception B.V.M.", in the USA;
     
• of the Delegate for the China Office;
• of the President of the Fond. "Our Lady of Africa", in Congo;
• of the Minister Provincial of the Prov. "Sts. Cyril and Methodius", in Croatia;

approved the SSPPs of:

• Prov. "Immaculate Conception B.V.M.", in Spain;
• Prov. "St. Paul the Apostle", in Colombia;
• Prov. "S. Juniper Serra", in Mexico;
• Prov. "St. Anthony of the Friars Minor", in Italy;
• Prov. "St. Francis of Assisi", in Poland;
• Office for the Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Adults of the General Curia;

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

• In Chapter:
  • Prov. "S. Juniper Serra" (part of the Government), in Mexico;
  • Prov. "St. Philip of Jesús", in Mexico;
  • Prov. "St. Anthony of the Friars Minor", in Italy;
  • Prov. "Immaculate Conception B.V.M.", in Italy;
  • Prov. "Holy. Name of Jesus", in Italy;
  • Prov. “ The Martyrs of Gorcum", in the Netherlands;
  • Prov. "St. Francis of Assisi", in Poland;
  • Prov. "Assumption of B.V.M.", in Poland;
  • Prov. "St Saviour", in Slovakia;
  • Prov. "St James of Compostela", in Spain;
  • Prov. "The Holy Family", in Egypt;
  • Prov. "St. Francis", in East Africa;
  • Prov. "Bl. John Duns Scotus", in France and Belgium;
  • Prov. "St. Elizabeth", in Germany;
     
• in the Chapter Congress:
  • Prov. "St Hedwig", Prov. "Assumption of B.V.M.", in Poland;
  • Prov. "St. Francis of Assisi", in Poland;
  • Prov. "St James Compostela", in Spain;
  • Prov. "Our Lady of Grace", in Italy;
  • Prov. "The Seven Martyrs  of Calabria", in Italy;
  • Prov. "Sacred Heart of Jesus", in Italy;
  • Prov. "The Holy Cross", in Bosnia and Herzegovina;
  • Prov. "St Saviour", in Slovakia;
  • Prov. "St. Francis", in East Africa;
  • Prov. of Transylvania "St Stephen the King", in Romania;
  • Prov. "St. Juniper Serra", in Mexico;
  • Prov. "St Philip of Jesús", in Mexico;
  • Prov. "The Assumption of B.V.M.", in Bosnia and Herzegovina;
  • Prov. Dalmatian "The Holy Redeemer", in Croatia;
  • Cust. "The Protomartyrs of Morocco", in Morocco;
     
• Outside the Chapter, of:
  • Provincial Definitor: Prov. "St. Junipert Serra", Prov. "St Philip Jesús", in Mexico; Prov. Dalmatian "The Holy Redeemer", in Croatia;
  • Guardians: Prov. "Sts. Francis and James", in Mexico, 1; Prov. "St. Anthony of Padua", in Brazil, 3; Prov. "St. Thomas the Apostle," in India, 1; Prov. "Our Lady of Guadalupe", in the USA, 1; Prov. "St. Wenceslas", in the Czech Republic, 1; Prov. "St. Francis", in East Africa, 1; Cust. aut. "St. Benedict of the Amazon", in Brazil, 1;

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

• Dispensation from Temporary Vows: 9;
• Exlaustration: 3;
• Secularization ad experimentum: 4;
• Secularization pure et simpliciter: 7;
• Dispensation from solemn vows: 2;
• Dispensation from the burdens of the clerical state: 6;

examined, amongst practices already in progress and new:

• Dismissal from the Order: 3;

with regard to the Entities dependent on the Minister General, dealt with the following practices:

• Admission to the Postulancy: 1;
• Admission to the Novitiate: 3;
• Admission to temporary profession: 1;
• Admission to the renewal of temporary profession: 8;
• Admission to diaconal ordination: 4;
• Change of legal status of the Houses: 2;
• Obedience for the mission: 2;
• Obedience on return from the mission: 1;

 dealt with other practices of various kinds:

• Readmission to the Order: 1;
• Transition to Order: 1;
• Suppression of Houses: 9;
• Disposal of the Order's immovable property: 4;
• Erection of novitiate houses: 1;
• Granting and/or renewal of obedience and/or scholarships: 73;
• Questions on the Novitiate: 2;
• Lecture notes granted: 3;
   
• Various.

The General Definitory will meet with the governance of the Roman Houses dependent on the Minister General and the friars who work at the Holy See on the 11th November and 23rd, respectively.
The next Tempo Forte is scheduled from the 12th to 24th September: all the Entities of the Order are reminded to send the petitions to be submitted to the General Definitory by Friday the 28th August.
To the praise of Christ and the Poverello poor man of Assisi. Amen!

Rome, 28th July 2025

Br. Antonio M. IACONA, OFM
Secretary-general