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The Tempo Forte of May took place from 15th to 9th at the General Curia generale “S. Maria Mediatrice”, in Rome; other two sessions of work were carried out from 13th - 16th May. In the first session the General Definitory in its ordinary work welcomed Br. Siphelele GWANISHENI, who was elected to replace Br. Victor L. QUEMATCHA who was elected the Bishop of Bafatá in Guinea Bissau. He had a time of presenting himself. The General Definitory begun by reflecting on Constitutional, Juridical and Theological Commision for the revision of the General Statutes; decided on the access to the Database of the Order for the Custodies dependent to the Province and permitted the consultation of all the friars, the publication of Directiones Domorum on the website of the Order; Br. Darko TEPERT, presented the final reduction of the letter on Formation to the Moderators for Ongoing Formation and evaluated the meeting of the Lay Friars; approved the Instrumentum Laboris for the Chapter of Mats; planned the interventions of the General Definitory to the Plenary Council of the Order; approved the Ratio evangelizationis of the Order; Br. Joel ESPLANA SULSE dealt with the adjustments of economical nature; he evaluated the questioner which was sent to the addition of 10 process of unification of the Entities of the Order; met the Investment Review Commission (IRC) for important revisions.
The General Definitory appointed:
- Br. Tomaž HOČEVAR, General Visitator of the Prov. “Saints. Cyril Method”, in Croatia;
- Br. Maggiorino STOPPA, General Visitator of the the Prov. “St. James of the Marche”, in Italy;
- Br. Michael D’CRUZ, General Delegate of the Custody of “Mary Mother of God (dependent to the Province “St. Tomas the Apostole”, in India) in view of its restructure;
- Br. Stephen O’KANE, General Delegate for the Province “St. Kazimil”, in Lithuania;
elected :
- The Custos and the Council of the Autonomous Custody “Good Shepherd”, in Zimbabwe;
approved the candidates to the office of Minister Provincial of:
- Prov. “Holy Family”, in Egypt;
- Prov. “The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary”, in Italy;
established the leadership of the following:
- The Guardianate of “St. Mary Draperis”, in Türkiye, dependent on the Minister General;
analysed the following situations:
- General Visitator for the Province “Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary”, in Brazil; Province of the “Blessed Virgin Mary Queen of China”, in Taiwan;
- Delegation: for the dependent Custody of “The Good Shepherd”, in Zimbabwe; “the Commission for the service of dialogue”;
ratified the Act of Election of the following Entity:
- In the Chapter: Province of the “Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary”, in Spain; Province of “Holy Cross”, in Slovenia; Province of the “Holy Spirit”, in Canada; Province of the “Sacred Heart of Jesus”, Province of “St. Mary of Graces”, Province of the “Seven Martyrs of Calabria” and the Province of “St. Michael the Archangel”, in Italy; Province of “St. John Baptist”, in the Phillippines; Province of “Protomartyrs of Morocco”, in Portugal; Province of “Holy Cross” and Province of “Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary”, in Boznia-Erzegovina; Dalmata Province of “Holy Redeemer”, in Croatia; Province of “St. Edwig”, in Poland; Custody of “Protomartys of Morocco”, in Morocco;
- In Capitular Congress: the Province of the “Blessed Virgin Mary Queen of China”, in Taiwan; Province of “St. John the Baptist”, in the Philippines; Province of the “Holy Cross”, in Slovenia;
- Outside the Chapter: The Minister Provincial for the Province of “Our Lady Queen of Peace”, in South Africa; Vicar Provincial for the: Province of the “Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Rio of Plata”, in Argentina; the Province of “ Our Lady Queen of Peace”, in South Africa; Provincial Definitor for the Province of “Our Lady Queen of Peace”, in South Africa; Guardian of the Province of “Immaculate Conception of the Blesssed Virgin Mary”, in Brazil, 1; Province of the “Holy Gospel”, in Mexico, 2; the Province of “ Our Lady of Guadalupe”, in USA, 1;
appointed:
- Br. Nestor SHAMINGA BOPE, reception of the International College of “St. Anthony” in Rome;
- Br. Ernesto DEZZA and Dr. Zita TÓTH, members St. Bonaventure College-Friars Editors of Quaracchi;
- Br. Andrea DALL’AMICO, Director of the Table “St. Anthony” at the International College of “St. Anthony” in Rome;
dealt with the following cases of separation from the Order:
- Indult of exclaustration: 2;
- Indult of secularization ad experimentum: 2;
- Indult of secularization pure et simpliciter: 2;
- Indult of dispensation from solemn vows: 1;
- Dispensation from the obligations of Clerical State: 6;
examined, among the practice already in process and new:
- Dismissal from the Ordine: 7;
- Graviora Delicta: 1;
dealt with other practices of various nature:
- Suppression of houses: 16;
- Alienation if beni immovable goods of the Order: 2;
- Granting and renewal of obedience and scholarship: 16;
- Admission to solemn profession of the Entities Dependent to the Minister General): 4;
- Admission to Sacerdotal Ordination (Entity Dependent to the Minister General): 1;
- Approval of Ratio Formationis: 1;
- Approval of Ratio Studiorum: 1;
- Transfer to another Institute: 1;
- Incardination of friars to other Entities of the Order: 1;
- Others.
The following Tempo Forte will take place from 7th to 18th July; from 21st to 25th July the General Definitory will meet the New General Visitators; we remind all the Entities of the Order to send the requests to the General Definitory one week before the Tempo Forte ( Friday 27th June).
Praise to Christ and the Poor man of Assisi. Amen!
Rome, 31 May 2025
On the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Br. Antonio M. IACONA, OFM
Secretary General
