From the 12th to 20th May in the General Curia, the Minister General and his Definitory will meet with the new Ministers and Custodes of the Order. This is the usual formation meeting that the General Government and the Officials of the Curia offer every year to the newly elected friars at the head of their Entity, to better prepare them for the service for which they have been chosen.
On Monday, the 12th May, after the recitation of Lauds and the presentation of the structure of the Curia by the Communications Office, the moderators of the session (Definitors Br. John Wong and Br. Konrad Cholewa) presented the program of the meeting. The participants then worked in small groups to share the joys, hopes, challenges and expectations of the Entities represented, which were subsequently shared in the plenary.
In the afternoon, the Minister General, Br. Massimo Fusarelli moderated the session by presenting his speech: "The service of authority in the synodal journey of the people of God: a look of hope towards the future". As the title suggests, Br. Massimo took his cue from the recent Synod on synodality experienced by the Church which, in his opinion, "offers new perspectives for understanding and living our ministry at the service of the People of God and our fraternity." Also from the writings of St Francis and St Clare emerges a clear and articulated conception of the authority of the Ministers and Custodes, which is based on some fundamental principles: authority as a service, the duties and limits of the Ministers, mutual obedience, the qualities to carry out such a service, the relationship with the friars, the spiritual dimension of authority and also some very practical aspects, such as the management of material goods according to poverty and transparency.
The Minister General focused on hope as an "essential dimension of ministry", and then moved on to more concrete issues, including the conversion of structures, formation, care for relationships, projects and visions aimed at the future, a new Franciscan evangelization. In conclusion, Br. Massimo recalled that "we are called above all to be ministers of hope, capable of looking beyond the difficulties of the present to see the signs of the Kingdom that is already sprouting among us. Just as Francis was able to see beyond the ruins of San Damiano a renewed Church, so we are called to see in the fragility of our time the signs of a new future that God is preparing.”
The day ended with the Eucharistic celebration presided over by Br. Ignacio Ceja Jiménez, Vicar General.
On Tuesday the 13th May, the new Ministers and Custodes discussed the theme of the Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Adults with the Brothers of the General Procuratorate (Br. Claudio Durighetto and Br. Chryzostom Fryc) and with Br. Albert Schmucki (Definitor General and former Director of the Office of Protection), Br. Iurii Semko and Br. Joe Condren (respectively current Director and Secretary of the Office).
The evening Mass was presided over by Br. Bonaventura Lin.
The following day, in the morning, some participants had private talks with the Minister General.
In the afternoon, the new Ministers and Custodes visited the Delegation of the Holy Land in Rome, welcomed by Br. Joseph Kamwashi Samba. During the meeting, the historical importance of the Custody and the role of the Commissaries of the Holy Land were discussed; In addition, the Ministers were invited to promote the annual Collection for the Holy Land, which helps to maintain the Church's presence in the Holy Places and to provide support to Christians. Later, they went to the Pontifical University Antonianum (PUA), welcomed by Br. Agustín Hernández Vidales, Rector Magnificent, who presented them with the educational offer of the four faculties. Br. Agustín pointed out that several specialized courses of the PUA are not present in other Pontifical Universities in Rome, highlighting in particular those on AI- Artificial Antelligence.
The day concluded with the recitation of Vespers and a fraternal dinner with the friars of the Fraternity of the International College of St. Anthony (CISA).
The meeting will continue until Tuesday the 20th May.
Participants:
Br. Antônio Pacheco Ramos, Province of the Assumption of the BVM (Brazil)
Br. Azeem Lawrence, Custody of St John the Baptist (Pakistan)
Br. Bonaventure Lin, Province of the BVM Queen of China (Taiwan)
Br. Carlos Antonio Minjares Hinojosa, Province of St Juniper Serra (Mexico)
Br. Erik Urbán, Province of St. Stephen King of Transylvania (Romania)
Br. Fernando Aparecido dos Santos, Custody of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Brazil)
Br. Frédéric-Marie Leméhauté, Province of Blessed John Duns Scotus (France and Belgium)
Br. Lino Miranda Castañeda, Province of the Holy Trinity (Chile)
Br. Luis Alcantara Ramirez, Custody of the Protomartyrs of Morocco (Morocco)
Br. Nicodeme Muambata Mukatsala, Province of Our Lady of the Angels (Democratic Republic of Congo)
Br. Richard Paul Cortéz Lopez, Province of St. Paul the Apostle (Colombia)
Br. Vicente Paulo do Nascimento, Province of the Holy Cross (Brazil)
