New Ministers for Croatia, France and Belgium, Portugal and Morocco

The friars of four entities of the Order gathered in these days for the elective Chapter and elected new friars for the various offices of provincial and custodial animation. The friars of the Province of St Jerome in Dalmatia and Istria (Croatia) elected Br Tomislav Šanko as Minister Provincial and Br Stipe Nosić as Vicar of the same Province. Br Bojan Rizvan, Br Josip Sopta, Br Leopold Mičić and Br Pavle Ivić were elected as Definitors. The Chapter was presided over by Br Ivan Sesar. It should be remembered that the Province of St Jerome in Dalmatia is the oldest Franciscan Province in Croatia. The friars of the Custody of the Protomartyrs in Morocco gathered in Rabat, Morocco, elected Br Stephane Delavelle as Custos and Br Franco Drigo as Vicar of the same Custody. In addition, the following were chosen for the office of Councillors: Br Thadèe Musas Kapend, Br Jorge Lázaro De Souza and Br Jean de Dieu Bazibuhe. The Chapter was presided over by Br Massimo Fusarelli, Minister General. The friars in Morocco, whose presence dates back to the time of St Francis, are dedicated to pastoral service, interreligious dialogue, and spiritual assistance to the Franciscan family, immigrants and prisoners. For France and Belgium, which form a single Province, Br Michel Laloux was elected Minister Provincial. Br Fernando Valente da Silva Mota was elected for the Province of Protomartyrs of Portugal. We do not yet have the names of the Definitors for these latter Provinces because the elections are still in progress.