The meeting of the commission of experts for the Ratio Evangelizationis of the Order, duly appointed by the Minister General, Br. Massimo Fusarelli, held their first meeting at the General Curia last September 7-8, 2023. In addition to the General Secretariat for Mission and Evangelization (composed by Br. Francisco Gomez Vargas, OFM, Br. Dennis Tayo, OFM, and Br. Antonio Lanzi, OFM), the other members of the commission are Br. John Barker, OFM, Br. Francis Lee, OFM, Br. Johannes Baptist Freyer, OFM, and Br. Valmir Ramos, OFM.
The work of the commission is to continue the previous efforts and process initiated by the CEME (Executive Council for Mission and Evangelization) with regard to the formulation of the Ratio Evangelizationis. Specifically, they are to start with the result from the Instrumentum Laboris that was sent to the various entities of the Order.
On the first day of the meeting, the group discussed the possible structure of the Ratio Evangelizationis based on the responses of the friars to the Instrumentum Laboris. It was agreed that the fundamental themes and essential points from it will really have to be considered and included in the draft of the Ratio. The commission also came into a consensus that the Ratio should not be purely a juridical or doctrinal document, but something that will really inspire and serve as an impetus for the brothers to carry out their evangelizing mission. Furthermore, it should also be written in a more narrative and literary manner, that is, a document that will capture the attention of the friars and involve them in a certain process of reflection and discernment.
Toward the end of the first day of the meeting, the group met with the Minister General and presented to him the result of their initial discussion. The Minister General gave a positive response to the initial efforts of the commission and thanked them for accepting the task of coming up with the final draft of the Ratio Evangelizationis of the Order.
The second and last day of the meeting was dedicated to the drafting of a proposed structure of the Ratio Evangelizationis which will then be presented to the Minister General and his Definitorium for subsequent approval. The group took into consideration the initial draft from the Instrumentum Laboris and the significant points agreed from the discussion of the previous day.
Led by Fr. Johannes Freyer, OFM, and Fr. Valmir Ramos, OFM, the commission came up with a proposed structure and outline of the content of the Ratio Evangelizationis of the Order. In keeping with the desire to make the document more literary and narrative, the titles of its principal chapters were taken from the words and writings of St. Francis of Assisi.
The group then agreed to meet again via ZOOM on September 28, 2023, after the draft’s presentation for approval to the Minister General and the General Definitorium.
