MINISTER GENERAL VISITS THE CUSTODY OF SARDINIA

From 18 to 20 March, Br Massimo Fusarelli, Minister General, accompanied by Br Francesco Piloni, Minister Provincial of the Seraphic Province of St Francis of Umbria, visited the Custody of Sardinia of the Friars Minor. The Ministers were welcomed by Br Graziano Maria Malgeri, Custos of Sardinia, who shared the joy and expectations of the 27 friars of the Custody: "It is with great joy that we welcome the Minister General and we want him to bless this flock, small and strong". On the first day of the visit, on the first Centenary of the birth of St Salvador of Horta, Co-Patron of the Custody, Br Massimo presided at the Mass in the Church-Sanctuary of Cagliari. He said: "This year we are celebrating the feast of St Salvador of Horta in a particular context, one marked by the winds of war coming from Eastern Europe, which together with the pandemic makes us experience our precariousness and powerlessness", and he said: "How much we need, then, the charismatic power that filled St Salvador of Horta!   The anniversary of the Patron Saint allowed him to clarify how this need for St Salvador is not "to solve problems with a magic wand but to convert our hearts and our outlook… St Salvador of Horta reminds us, today, that God is Lord and that we do not see our problems solved by entrusting ourselves to him in faith. Still, our hearts transformed to welcome God's presence in a new way", adding what the two virtues of the Saint were: "humility and patience, the latter as the ability to go through the contradictions and sufferings of life without immediately looking for a solution, a way out or a comfortable refuge". During his three days in Sardinia, Br Massimo met the friars of the Custody and visited "S'Aspro", the Mondo X Community, an institution that welcomes and accompanies people addicted to psychotropic substances and behavioural addictions. (Image OFM Assisi)