Establishment of the Custody of St. Jerome: visit of the Minister General to Croatia

On the April 22, 2025, the Chapter opened during which the ancient Province of St. Jerome (Dalmatia and Istria), after a three-year journey, has become the Custody of St. Jerome, dependent on the Province of Saints Cyril and Methodius in Zagreb, Croatia.

At the beginning of the morning the President of the Chapter opened the meeting. The Minister General, Br. Massimo Fusarelli, and the Definitor General, Br. Konrad Grzegorz Cholewa were present; after the formalities, the Decree of Constitution of the new Entity was read.
Then, Br. Massimo Fusarelli addressed the Chapter, exhorting the friars, even in this humanly painful change, to remain “Pilgrims of Hope” and to seek, together with the Province of Zagreb, how to revitalize the life and mission of the Friars Minor in this vast territory.

Immediately afterwards, the capitular assembly proceeded to the church where the Decree appointing the Custos Br. Tomislav Sanko, OFM and the Council: Br. Stipe Nosic, OFM, Br. Tomislav Hrstic, OFM, Br. Diego Deklic, OFM, Br. Leopold Micié, OFM, Br. Pavle IVIC, OFM was read. Then they took their oath according to the prescribed rite. A solemn Eucharistic celebration allowed everyone to thank the Lord for His gifts and, in the paschal atmosphere of this week, to invoke His Spirit upon the journey of the newly established Custody of St. Jerome.
All the friars prayed in suffrage for Pope Francis.

A fraternal agape concluded the morning. In the afternoon, the Minister General met with the Provincial Minister and the Definitory of the Province of Zagreb, together with the Custos and Council of the Custody of St. Jerome.

We entrust to the Lord the journey of this new reality of the Order, that it may bear fruits of renewal and evangelical vitality in the Franciscan witness in Croatia.

Read the Minister General Homily: Italiano - Hrvatski