The meeting of the animators of New Forms of Life and Evangelisation from the European continent was held in Rome from 21 to 22 February 2023. Br Francisco Gomez Vargas, General Secretary for Mission and Evangelisation of the Order, explained that "after the meeting of the New Forms in Rome in October 2022, the General Definitory was asked to appoint a Commission of Animators of the New Forms for Europe".
Br Bernardo Ondrai Mlecka, a commission member, summarised the work accomplished: "Over these two days, we discussed the identity and objective of this commission and what we can do in the future for the animation of these new forms of Franciscan life in Europe".
Br Ferdinand Van Der Reiken also shared the planned activities: "For the future, we would like to bring the friars together, to bring about new initiatives, new forms of life through sharing; we would like to bring more fraternal joy to the world. The next meeting will take place in October".
The Minister General, in agreement with the General Definitory, on 11 November 2022, created the Commission to coordinate new forms of presence, life and evangelisation in Europe. This Commission has the task of evaluating, encouraging and accompanying appropriate initiatives and new experiences of life emerging in the Order at the European level. The members of the Commission are Br Francisco Gomez Vargas, General Secretary for Mission and Evangelisation, Br Gabriele Dall'Acqua, from the Santo Antonio Province of the Friars Minor in Northern Italy, Br Bernard Ondrai Mlecka, from the Province of St Wenceslas in the Czech Republic, Br Andraz Arko, Holy Cross Province in Slovenia and Br Ferdinand Van der Reiken, from the Martyrs of Gorkum Province in the Netherlands.
