From the 12th to 20th May in the General Curia, the Minister General and his Definitory met 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.
After the first days, The meeting continued on the 15th May with Br. Claudio Durighetto and Br. Chryzostom Fryc, respectively Procurator General and Deputy, who illustrated the Legislation and the Provincial Government, the Definitory as a council and the Canonical Procedures for the Friars in difficulty. The theme absorbed the whole morning with group work on the challenges experienced by the Entities and the plenary for the presentation of the works and any questions.
In the afternoon, the new Ministers and Custodes visited some Offices of the General Curia: Br. Pedro Zitha illustrated his work as Assistant General of the OFS; the JPIC office was presented by Br. Daniel N. Rodriguez Blanco and Br. Taucen Girsang, respectively Director and Deputy; the Director Br. Chryzostom Fryc welcomed the brothers into the Historical Archive.
On the 16th May, Br. Cesare Vaiani presented the theme of the Franciscan Centenarians, the Chapter of Mats and the Plenary Council of the Order: these are events, explained the Definitor General, that involve the whole Order, at the territorial and general level, with a view to dialogue, confrontation and renewal of the charism and mission.
Subsequently, the OFM Fraternitas Foundation was presented by Br. Franco Mirri and Br. Nikola Kozina (of the Foundation) and Br. Baptist D'Souza (Delegate of the Secretary General for relations with the Foundation).
In the afternoon, the visits to the Offices continued: Br. Gianni Califano (Postulator General) explained the Postulation and the process for the causes of saints, while Br. Francisco Gomez Vargas (Secretary for Evangelization) and Br. Dennis Tayo (Animator for the Missions) spoke about the General Secretariat for the Missions and Evangelization.
The next day the friars made a pilgrimage to Assisi, led by the Definitor General Fr. César Külkamp. They visited the library of the Sacred Convent and the Basilica of St. Francis and then went to the friary and Church of San Damiano, where they celebrated the Eucharist presided over by Br. Francesco Piloni, Minister Provincial of the Province of St. Francis of Assisi. In the afternoon they visited the Portiuncula, where the Custos Br. Massimo Travascio showed the friars the restoration work that had just been completed.
Sunday, the 18th May marked the beginning of the Petrine ministry of Leo XIV and some guests participated in the liturgy in St. Peter's Square.
The meeting continued on the 19th May with the report of Br. Saulo Duarte and Br. José Dimas Granados Ramos on "The Minister between listening to the brothers and personal solitude" addressing it through the theme of "Leaders and Leadership", which was followed by work in language groups on the challenges and approaches for the accompaniment of friars in difficulty in the Entities and in the Conferences. In the afternoon, the two speakers continued the session on the issue of managing situations of internal conflict.
The meeting continued on the 19th May with the report of Br. Saulo Duarte and Br. José Dimas Granados Ramos on the theme "The Minister between listening to the brothers and personal solitude" addressing it through the themes of Leader and Leadership and communication, which was followed by work in language groups on the challenges and approaches for the accompaniment of friars in difficulty in the Entities and in the Conferences. In the afternoon, the two speakers continued the session on the issue of managing situations of internal conflict.
On the last day of the meeting, Br. Joel Sulse (General Treasurer) and Br. Saulo Duarte (Deputy General Treasurer) dealt with the theme of "Economy in the Life and Mission of the Entity"; afterwards, the participants were able to ask their questions to the General Treasurer.
In the second part of the morning, Br. Darko Tepert and Br. Hieronimus Dei Rupa (Secretary General of Formation and Studies and Vice-President) presented the report entitled "The Minister's service to form through the report and the report", which was followed by a debate with the speakers.
In the afternoon, the Secretary General, Br. Antonio Iacona, presented the new Manual of the Provincial Secretary, while Br. Pasquale Berardinetti (Director of the Protocol and Automation offices) illustrated Schematismus and Directiones Domorum.
After the Plenary Assembly of sharing and verification of all the work done in the previous days, the Eucharistic celebration on the feast of St. Bernardine of Siena was presided over by the Minister General, Br. Massimo Fusarelli, who in his homily recalled the centrality of the Name of Jesus in the preaching of St. Bernardine who taught that salvation comes only from Jesus. He also emphasized the importance of the synodal spirit and mutual listening, highlighting how this approach is rooted in the Franciscan tradition concluded this meeting of dialogue, formation, sharing and fraternity. Good service to all!
