After the Sunday break, the capitular works continued this morning with a topic that brought great happiness to the order: the canonical establishment of the Province of St. Maximilian Kolbe in India.  The order of the day saw three speeches given: a brief report by the FAAMC Assistant General, Fr. Eugenio Kawashimo; a speech by Fr. Alfred Calleja, Minister Provincial of Malta, the Mother Province; and finally a report on the state of the Custody which was asking for establishment as Province presented by Fr. Mathew Puraydom, Custodial Vicar of India.

A series of interventions followed by various friars asking for clarification: then, after a break, the Praeses of the Chapter asked for the vote to establish the Province, which was unanimously approved.  This was a moving moment and brought the friars directly involved to tears.  The most beautiful moment was the fraternal embrace shared between friars Alfred Calleja and Mathew Puraydom, to show the ideal passage of Mother Province to her daughter.

Following the approval, the traditional congratulations to the newly-erected Province were made: the representatives of the various Coetuses, Conferences and Federations made their felicitous interventions expressing the joy of the entire Order and acknowledging the work of the first missionaries and of the native friars.  In this festive climate, the friars then headed to the Chapel, where Mass was presided by Fr. Alfred Calleja (text of homily).

The afternoon saw several topics brought to the Chapter hall with the following motions discussed: collaboration between the Franciscan family on the promotion of Justice, Peace, and Safeguarding of Creation; creation of intercultural communities and inter-Franciscan programs; study of Italian and English (at least) for friars in initial formation; empowering libraries and centers for Franciscan documentation.

Video: Provincia dell' India