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The Tempo Forte of May took place from the 6th to 9th of May at the General Curia “St. Mary Mediatrix,” in Rome. Other “extraordinary” sessions as indicated on the website took place in the Philippines on 10th April, during the meeting of the General Definitory with the Union of Conferences FCAO (EAC and SAAOC), and from the 14th to 17th May at the General Curia.
The General Definitory discerned on the life and mission of the friars in Papua New Guinea; the first “ordinary” session was centered on personal sharing so as to deepen mutual relationship and share on the life lived from the last Tempo Forte; having discerned over the Foundation of “St. Francis of Assisi” in Russia, the suppression of one of the three presences of the Entity was decreed (Ussurijsk); it was done through the approach of synodality; together with Br Juan I. ALDANA M., the General Definitory gave the update on the Chapter of Mats 2025; the reflection on CPO of 2025 was initiated; a reflection on the revision of the General Curia especially on the replacement of personnel was carried out; there was an examination on the proposal of the Commision of DEVEL-FF on the possibility of integrating the Development Office to Fondazione OFM Fraternitas and the new procedures on projects. Br Joel SULSE, the new Bursar General from 1st August was welcomed; the General Definitory met the Commision for the revision of investment and carried out the meeting with the new Minister Provincials and Custodians of the Order (10th -18th May).
The General Definitory
It appointed:
- Br Alfio B. LANFRANCO, General Visitator to the Province of “St. Michael the Archangel”, in Italy (Molfetta).
- Br Fabio PIASENTIN, General Visitator to the Province of the “Assumption of the B.V. M”, in Italy (Lecce).
- Br Guillermo LANCASTER JONES CAMPERO, General Visitator to the Province of “Immaculate Conception of B.V.M.”, in USA (New York).
- Br Konstantinus BAHANG, General Visitator to the Province of “St. Michael the Archangel”, in Indonesia (Jakarta).
- Br Derrik YAP, General Visitator to the Dependent Custody of the Minister General of “St. Francis”, in Asia.
- Br CaoimhÍn Ó LAOIDE, General Visitator and General Delegate for the Province of the Holy Spirit”, in Australia (Waverley).
- The Minister Provincial, the Vicar and two Provincial Definitors of the Province of “St. Benedict the African”, in the Republic Democratic of Congo (Lubumbashi), following the removal of the Minister Provincial for grave the reason of his health.
It approved the Canonical erection and appointed the Government of the:
- Autonomous Custody of “Our Lady of Kibeho” in Africa; the Custody which is made up Rwanda and Burundi, it is born from the act of restructuring of the Province of St. Francis”, in Africa, Madagascar and Mauritius (Nairobi). It will be canonically erected on the 1st of July 2024.
It ratified the elections of the following Entities:
- In the Chapter:
- The Province of “Our Lady Queen of Peace”, South Africa (Vanderbijlpark).
- In Capitular Congress: The Province of the Prov. “holy martyrs of Korea,”South Korea (Seoul).
- Outside the Chapter the Provincial definitors of the Province of:
- “St. Peter Baptist”, in the Phillipines (Quezon City),1; Definitor for the Province of “St. Antony of Padua”, in the Philippines (Cebu City), 2; Guardians in the Province of the “Assumption of the B.V.M of Rio de la Plata”, in Argentina (Buenos Aires), 1; Province of the “Holy Martyrs of Gorcum”, in Netherlands (’S-Hertogenbosch), 1; Province of “Saints Peter and Paul”, in Mexico (Michoacan), 2; Province of the “Immaculate Conception B.V.M.”, in Spain (Madrid).
It approved under condition (sub conditione) the Particular Statues of:
- The Province of “ the Holy Cross”, in Slovenia (Ljubljana).
- The Province of the “Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary”, in Poland (Kalwaria Z.).
- Autonomous Custody of “Our Lady of Seven Joys”, in Brazil (Campo Grande).
It dealt with the following cases of separation from the Order:
- The Indult of secularization pure et simpliciter: 4.
- The Indult of secularization ad experimentum: 2.
- The Indult of dispensation from solemn vows 1.
- Indult of dispensation from clerical state and solemn vows: 4.
It examined the cases which were already in the process and new cases:
- Dismissal from the Order: 1.
- Cases of Graviora delicta: 1.
It dealt with other various issues:
- The erection of novitiate houses: 1.
- Situations of Novitiates: 2.
- Admission to profession (Entities dependent on the Minister General): 4.
- Admission to Holy Orders (Entity dependent on the Minister General): 3.
- Suppression of houses: 6 cases.
- Alienation of movable goods: 4.
- Granting of obedience and bursary of studies: 3.
- The decree concerning the offices of the General Curia: 5.
- Transfer to ’FM: 1.
- Request of Indulgence: 1.
- Anticipation of the Chapter and Capitular Congress: 1.
- Economic activities: 3.
The General Definitory reminds that whoever faces problem of accessing the system (Mailbox and Database) through official credentials is asked to contact the General Secretariate through the following email (secgen@ofm.org).
The next Tempo Forte will be preceeded by the meeting of the General Definitory with new General Visitators (8-12 July). It is expected to take place from 15th to 26th July; all the Secretaries of the Entities of the Order are reminded to present their requests to the General Definitory (by 5th of July; the requests that will be sent late will be forwarded to the next Tempo Forte.
Praise to Christ and to the Poverello of Assisi. Amen!
Rome, 18 May 2024
Br Antonio M. IACONA, OFM
Secretary General
