Fraternitas vol. XLVIII. Nr

FRATERNITAS

Vol. XLVIII. Nr. 220 - OFM Roma – Email: [e-mail] - 01.02. 2015



The Minister General

convokes the

2015 General Chapter
The VIII Chapter of our Rule of life reminds us: “Let all the brothers be bound to have one of the brothers of this Order as General Minister and servant of the whole fraternity and let them be strictly bound to obey them” (Rb VIII, 1). Thomas of Celano, later recalled how, for St. Francis, it was “a constant desire and careful attention to maintain the link of unity among children in such a way that they who were attracted by the same spirit and generated by the same father would live in agreement in the womb of one mother alone” (2Cel).

Therefore, in accordance with that established by art. 190 §1 of the GGCC and by art. 140 §1 of the GGSS, I OFFICIALLY CONVOKE THE ORDINARY GENERAL CHAPTER which will be celebrated in the Domus Pacis, adjacent to the Porziuncola in Saint Mary of the Angels, Assisi (Perugia, ITALY), from the 10^th of May to the 7^th of June 2015.

The election of the Minister General is scheduled for Thursday the 21^st of May 2015. The Fraternity Mass, using the Mass of the Holy Spirit, should be celebrated for this intention in each Fraternity of the Order on that date.

I invite every Friar of the Order to pray intensely, to reflect wisely and to prepare themselves responsibly for this fundamental event of our life and mission.

(From the Letter of Convocation of the General Chapter)

Meeting of the Conference of Ministers General

A meeting of the Conference of Minister Generals of the First Order of Franciscans (Minors, Conventuals and Capuchins) and TOR, together with the Secretary Generals for Formation and Studies and those responsible for Communications of the General Curias of the various obediences, was held at the General Curia of the Friars Minor Capuchin in Rome on Saturday the 10^th of January 2015.

The aim of the meeting was that of continuing the joint reflection on the influence of the digital era on our life and mission, particularly in the area of formation and communication.

Sister Caterina Cangià, a Salesian, presented a reflection on the topic of “The Challenges of the Means of Communications on the consecrated life” during the morning. The dialogue and exchanges during the afternoon on the unease, hopes, possibilities, limitations and challenges that the digital era and the subsequent cultural changes have on both initial and ongoing formation was extensive and had the intention of consolidating our human, Christian and Franciscan identity in the hope that Franciscan formation could respond to the positive and propositional strategies of the new opportunities.

Christmas of the Minister General

The Minister General visited the houses in Rome dependent on him towards the end of Advent to exchange Christmas greetings. He presided at mid-night Mass in the General Curia and at the Mass of the Day in the Franciscan Sanctuary of Greccio.

Five centuries of Franciscan life
The book “La Chiesa e il Convento di S. Martino di Trevi” (The Church and Convent of St. Martin in Trevi) on five centuries of Franciscan life, edited by Giulio Mancini of the Orfini Numeister Association, was presented in the Clitunno Theatre of Trevi on the 7^th of December 2014. Following the greetings of the Minister Provincial of Umbria, Br. Claudio Durighetto, OFM, of the Mayor of, Bernardino Sperandio, and of Rita Fanelli Marini of the Orfini Numeister Association, there were interventions during the presentation from: Vittoria Garibaldi, historian of art; Stefano Brufani, of the University of Perugia; Pietro Messa, OFM, of the Pontifical University Antonianum - Rome. Luigi Pellegrini, OFMCap, of the University of Chieti, moderated the debate.
The Episcopal Ordination of Br. Vittorio Francesco Viola, OFM
The Episcopal Ordination of Br. Vittorio Francesco Viola, nominated Bishop of Tortona by Pope Francis, took place during a Eucharistic celebration in the Papal Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels in the afternoon of the 7^th of December. Msgr. Domenico Sorrentino, Bishop of Assisi-Nocera Umbra-Gualdo Tadino, presided at the celebration. Among the concelebrants were: Card. Gualtiero Bassetti, Archbishop of Perugia-Pieve City; Msgr. Martino Canessa, Apostolic Administrator of Tortona; Card. Attilio Nicora, Pontifical Legate to the Papal Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, Card. Giuseppe Betori, Archbishop of Florence; and about 50 Bishops and 150 priests. Many pilgrims from the Diocese of Tortona, the native town of Msgr. Vittorio Viola, also participated in the celebration.
The initiatives of the House for the Aged in Foggia

The St. Anthony House for the Aged in Foggia, greatly desired by Br. Leonardo Civitavecchia, with the collaboration of the ACS Anteas Volunteers, considered giving part-time work for one year to two sanitary workers within the structures of care for the aged in the area of Carmine Vecchio. The lottery of charitable solidarity joined this initiative with two precise objectives: to give and receive. Important prizes can be won, but the revenue from the lottery will serve to reignite hope, especially among the more needy. The first event, a concert, took place in the Fuoco Theatre on the 13^th of December and the draw of tickets took place during a show at the House for the Aged on the 4^th of January 2015.

The female Franciscan Consecrated Life

The Pontifical University Antonianum has organised a Course of Specialisation on the female Franciscan Consecrated Life dedicated to the study of those experiences, particularly of a Franciscan nature, which blossomed in the XIX and XX centuries and enriched the life of the Church with a variety of charisms.

The course, which will be over two years, was given from the 26^th of January 2015 to the 7^th of February 2015, with a second session taking place from the 15^th to the 27^th of June 2015. The teachers of the first session were: Grazia Loparco, F.M.A., (The figure of the women in the XIX and XX centuries); Maria Teresa Spiga, F.M.A., (Sociology of the Religious Life); Alessandro Mastromatteo, O.F.M., (The Theology of the Evangelical Counsels); and Giuseppe Buffon, O.F.M., (Franciscanism in the ecclesial context of the XVIII to the XXI century).
Br. Fernand J. Cheri, OFM, a new Bishop

Pope Francis named Br. Fernand J. Cheri, O.F.M., till now Director of “Campus Ministry” at “Quincy University” (Illinois), Auxiliary Bishop of New Orleans (U.S.A.) on the 12^th of January, assigning him the Titular Episcopal See of Membressa.

400 Years of Franciscan presence in North America
2015 will be a unique occasion thanks to a series of events related to the 400^th anniversary of the arrival of the Recollect Friars, an ancient branch of the Order of Friars Minor (OFM), in New France.

In addition, this year will be the 125^th anniversary of the restoration of the Franciscan Order in Canada after an absence of 127 years caused by the British regime and the victory of 1763. [http://www.francisofassisi.ca]

SGME: Christmas in South Sudan
Brs. Jesus Aguirre, Mario De Battista and Masseo Golha, the three Friars who live in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, had the pleasure of welcoming Br. Nicodemo Kibuzehose, DG, and Br. Massimo Tedoldi, SGME, who wished to express the greetings, and esteem for their courageous witness, of the Minister General and of the whole Order. The arrival of the two Friars from the Curia in Roma preceded that of two new missionaries to South Sudan, Br. Federico Gandolfi, from the Roman Province, and Br. Marco Freddi, from the Assisi Province, scheduled to arrive in mid-January 2015.

The days of Christmas were lived in the warmth of Fraternity and in the service of the brothers who live on the periphery, on the desert steppes that characterise the region. Here, among miserable straw huts but in the joyful celebration of so many poor people, Jesus was born, reminding everyone of the stable in Bethlehem.

A new Province in Spain

The founding Chapter of the new Franciscan Province in Spain, the Province of the Immaculate Conception, was held from the 29^th of December 2014 to the 4^th of January 2015. It is the result of the unification of six of the eight OFM Provinces that were in Spain up to now and the small Custody of St. Francis Solanus in Perù.

The founding Chapter, presided by the Delegate General, Br. Juan T. Zuriarrain, had as its motto: “Do what you will be told”. The reports of the Provincial Secretariats of Formation and Studies and of Mission and Evangelisation, and the report on finances were studied during the Chapter. The Project of Life and Mission and the Statutes of the new Province were approved.

The Province of the Immaculate Conception embraces the territories of the Autonomous Regions of Andalusia, Aragon, Castille and León, Castille-La Mancha, Canary Islands, Cataluña, Valencia, Extremadura, Balearic Islands, La Rioja, Madrid and Murcia.

Bini Giacomo, OFM, “Seme di eternità”, Biografia e scritti inediti, (“Seeds of eternity”, unedited biography and writings). Edizioni Biblioteca Francescana, Milano 2014, pp. 227.

The book was born of the desire to share something of the human, Christian and Franciscan richness of Br. Giacomo Bini with the people who, at different times and in different situations, knew him, were close to him and loved him.

A few pages from the ten copy-books written by him during the last thirty years of life, and found in his cell, were chosen for this purpose. They are personal reflections that allow us to follow his journey closely, to receive something of his way of taking care of his interior life.

CACCIOTTI ALVARO AND MELLI MARIA (editors), I Francescani e la crociata (The Franciscans and the Crusades), The Acts of the XI Historical Conference of Greccio (3-4 of May 2013), Edizioni Biblioteca Francescana, Milan, 2014, 397 pages.

The relationship of Francis of Assisi, and of his Order, with the phenomenon of the Crusades was the subject of the XI Conference of Greccio. The presentations reported in the Acts tried, through an intense investigation of the sources and phenomena, to offer a needed clarifying contribution, not only for the Franciscan stage of the origins.

NEW visitators
Br. ANDREW BROPHY, of the Province of the Assumption of the BVM (USA), for the Province of the Korean Martyrs (KOREA).
Br. DOMINIC MONTI, of the Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus (USA), for the Province of Santa Barbara (USA).
Br. EDILSON ROCHA, of the Custody of St. Benedict of the Amazon (brazil), for the Custody of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (brazil).
Br. KATETA GREGOIRE BOWA, of the Province of St. Benedict the African (D.R. Congo), for the Foundation of Our Lady of Africa (CONGO-BRAZZAVILLE).
Br. VALMIR RAMOS, of the Custody of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Brazil), for the Province of the Immaculate Conception (brazil).
Br. WANDERLEY GOMES DE FIGUEIREDO, of the Custody of the Seven Joys (Brazil), for the Province of Holy Cross (Brazil).
Br. SANDRO OVEREND RIGILLO, of the Province of St. Paul the Apostle (malta), for the Province of St. Casimir (lithuania).

The Letter to the Romans and monographic courses

The Inter-provincial Theological Study Centre of St. Bernardino of Verona organised some biblical days on the Letter to the Romans, to be given by Professor Stefano Romanello, from the 2^nd to the 4^th of February 2015.

The Institute will propose two monographic courses, during the second semester, on St. Bonaventure of Bagnoreggio and on evil in theology, given respectively by Prof. Ernesto Dezza, OFM, and Prof. Sante Babolin. The first course intends to go deeply into the thought and doctrine of St. Bonaventure; this course will be held in the afternoon of each Monday from the 9^th of February. The second course, which will be held in the afternoon of each Tuesday from the 10^th of February, intends to present the problem of evil and will be composed of three stages: the dignity and the frailty of mankind, the mystery of redemption and salvation, and the mystery of the Church.
The 2^nd of February – the Day of the Consecrated Life

The 2^nd of February 2015, the year dedicated to the Consecrated Life, has a special significance. Pope Francis, in his Apostolic Letter to all the Consecrated, indicated 5 expectations that the Church has of the Consecrated Life during this special year:

1. Happiness that transmits joy.

2. A prophesy to awaken the world.

3. The parable of a spirituality of communion.

4. A missionary impulse towards the human peripheries.

5. Listening to the things God and humanity ask of us and of the religious life.
The Agenda of the Minister General
February:

1-11: A FRATERNAL VISIT to Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore:

13-18: A FRATERNAL VISIT to the Democratic Republic of Congo: Foundation of the New Province

18-20: Rome: Celebrations for the beginning of Lent

21-25: A FRATERNAL VISIT to Egypt

26-28: ROME

Bl. Junípero Serra, OFM
Pope Francis announced his intension to canonise Bl. Junípero Serra, OFM. Blessed Junípero was born in Petra, Majorca, Spain, on the 24^th of November 1713. He died at the Mission of St. Charles Borromeo in Carmel, California, USA, on the 28^th of August 1784. He worked as a missionary in Mexico, with his seat at the Apostolic College of St. Fernando in Mexico City, serving the missions of the Sierra Gorda, to the north of the capital. He founded the first of the Franciscan Missions of California at San Diego in 1769, and worked tirelessly in the evangelisation of the indigenous peoples along the Pacific coast until his death. He was solemnly beatified by Pope John Paul II in Rome on the 25^th of September 1988. He is considered to be the founder of the Province of Bl. Junípero Serra, in Mexico, and of the Province of Santa Barbara in California, USA.

The Pontifical University Antonianum: “The Francsican Experience”
The Institute of Franciscan Spirituality of the PUA is offering a programme of Franciscan spirituality in English, entitled “The Franciscan Experience”, every Thursday of Lent 2015. [www.antonianum.eu]
The lessons include:

19^th Feb: A Socio-Spiritual Introduction to the Franciscan Experience: by Br. Gilberto Cavazos-González, OFM

26^th Feb: The Writings of Francis and Clare: by Br. Leonhard Lehmann, OFMCap

5^th Mar: Franciscan Mysticism: by Br. William Short, OFM

12^th Mar: Franciscan Understanding of the Human Person: by Br. Albert Schmucki, OFM

19^th Mar: Franciscan Mission: by Br. Benedict Vadakkekara, OFMCap

26^th Mar: Franciscan Spirituality today and tomorrow: by Br. Gilberto Cavazos-Gonzále, OFM.