From the 7th- 9th March 2025, in Maribo at the convent of the Sisters of St. Briget (Habitaculum Mariae, Sankt Birgitta Kloster), the national fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order of Denmark celebrated its National Chapter.
It is a very small fraternity that has only 20 members belonging to three local fraternities located in Copenhagen, Aarhus and Aalborg. Despite the small number, the fraternity is very active, determined, joyful, tenacious and committed both in the local Church and in the Order.
The CIOFS delegation, consisting of Mary Stronach, Deputy Minister General, and Br. Pedro Zitha, OFM, member of the Conference of General Spiritual Assistants, arrived in Copenhagen on the 6th March and was hosted at the friary of St. Francis of Assisi, which is located at number 4 Stenographe.
The visit to the national fraternity began on the 7th March with the celebration of Mass presided over by His Excellency, Czeslaw Kozon, Bishop of Copenhagen, also responsible for Greenland and the Faroe Islands. At the end of the celebration, the visitors had a meeting with Mons. Czeslaw during which they discussed various topics including that of the service of the OFS in the local Church and in the Diocese. The meeting was very cordial and open and concluded with lunch.
After greetings and thanking the Bishop for his hospitality, the delegation, accompanied by the national spiritual assistant Br. Stephen Maria Bejo, OFMConv. and by two members of the OFS went by train, a journey of about two hours, to the city of Maribo, whereat the Elective Chapter was celebrated. The Chapter opened with the celebration of Mass presided by the national spiritual assistant Br Stephen, OFMConv, concelebrating with Br Pedro Zitha, OFM. During the celebration, the Chapter members renewed their profession.
On Saturday, the day of the Chapter, the members began with the celebration of Mass, offered by Br. Pedro Zitha, OFM, who in his homily reflected on the profound meaning of the Christian call that gives meaning to the call to the OFS. The work then continued with the financial report, approved unanimously, and with a debate that addressed the challenges for future OFS fraternities in Denmark and, more generally, in the Scandinavian countries. Everyone agreed in emphasizing the need to give priority above all to formation and to strengthening the relationship with the Bishop and the Diocese.
On Saturday afternoon, the vote for the election of the new National Council took place, which reconfirmed both Hellen Zielke Nielsen as National Minister and Catherine Moniel as International Councilor.
