During this morning’s session the Capitular friars assembled for the last time to conclude the 5th Session with the global vote of all the previously approved motions (the complete list of the approved motions is available in the Documents section).    read more»

Thank you, Holy Father!

Message of the Holy Father to the Capitulars

The whole morning was dedicated to group work in the various Coetuses: the Capitulars looked at the topic given to them yesterday regarding the proposal of the Minister General and his Definitory on the sexennial project for the Order.

After a free morning, which was needed after the adventurous pilgrimage to Padua for the Feast of St. Anthony, the Capitulars went back to the Assembly to vote on the General Econom.  After the Minister General’s proposal, Fr. Giorgio Silvestri, of the Paduan Province, was reconfirmed for the six-year term.

Happy Birthday, Father General!

After an intense morning of capitular activities, the friars went on pilgrimage to Siena.  After arriving in the city they visited the historical centre and the Duomo, then they prayed at our church of St. Francis, where the Eucharistic Miracle is preserved.  Thus in a climate of prayer and recollection, the friars spent time in adoration before the Most Blessed Sacrament.

Today saw the continuation of analyzing the various motions from the Instrumentum Laboris similar to yesterday.  The Capitular’s attention was on the Directory for the Celebration of the Provincial Chapter;   read more»

Video:  Concert - Quale Gioia (Oh what joy! Ps 122)

The Chapter activities of this morning were characterized by the presentation of motions contained in the Instrumentum Laboris regarding the General Delegations, the Ratio Studiorum, managing the Finances of the Order, initial formation and the opportunity to create a General Secretariat for Youth-Vocational Ministry.   read more»

Video:
Solemnity of the Holy Trinity

One moment, among many, gave the event its flavor: at the end of the election of the General Definitory, friar Joachim Giermek, outgoing Minister General, asked to speak and with deep emotion he addressed the Capitulars.

The day’s rhythm followed that of yesterday: first there was a look at the topics found in the Instrumentum Laboris, firstly in Plenary session, then in the regional Coetuses.  Today’s subject was formation, which is a priority which our Order has been analyzing the last ten years.   read more»

» Serata di fraternità

The Fourth Session of the Chapter closed yesterday morning with the election of the General Definitory.  During the afternoon most of the friars left for a trip to Gubbio, where they celebrated Mass, visited the town and were guests for a scrumptuous dinner at our friary there.

» Visit to Gubbio

Today’s program follows that of yesterday: during the morning, discussion in the Chapter Hall and voting on several motions relative to the role and person of the Assistants General;

Video: Concerto - Tota Pulchra

After Sunday’s day of rest, which was characterized by the solemnity of Pentecost and the friars’ feast for the newly-elected Minister General, the capitular activities began again in the Chapter Hall at 9.00am, with the intervention by Fr. Marco Tasca.

» Homily of the Minister General

Homily of the Minister General
On the Solemnity of Pentecost

Video: Eucharistic Concelebration

Fr. MARCO TASCA
of the Paduan Province of St. Anthony
is the 119^th Minister General
of the Order of Friars Minor Conventual

The Second Session of the General Chapter concluded with this morning’s works.  The Capitulars assembled in the Chapter Hall at 9.00am and heard the summaries of the yesterday’s group work in the mixed Coetuses: the general impression being that it was a positive instrument enriching every participant.

After having completed their work in the various Coetuses of the Order, the Capitulars were again present in the Chapter Hall this morning to hear the reading of the reports from the Secretaries of the various Coetuses, each summarizing the reflection on the state of the Order.

This morning was also occupied with the various group works, where   the various reports and on the state of the Order have now come to a close.  The Mass was organized today by the Anglo-American Coetus: presided by Fr. Christopher Deitz, Minister Provincial of the St. Joseph of Cupertino Province in the U.S., and concelebrated by Frs. James McCurry, General Delegate for England and Ireland and Wacław Sokołowski, Provincial Custos of Canada.   read more »

Today’s news deals completely with group work, which took up the whole morning and went into the afternoon with each Coetus meeting.

The entire day was committed to the reading of the summaries of the reports to the General Chapter by the various Assistants General.  Every intervention was 20 minutes long, with a further 10 minutes for questions and clarifications by the Capitulars.  Each Report is available on the “Documents” section of the webpage.

Video:
Cantico delle Creature
P. Domenico Stella (1881-1956)

Photo Gallery:
Eucharistic Concelebration presided by His Eminence Attilio Card. Nicora

On this day where we celebrate the memorial of St. Margaret of Cortona, the Capitular friars have continued their retreat.  After Morning Prayer celebrated in the various languages, the friars gathered in the Chapter Hall at 9.00am and heard the last reflection by Friar Felice Cangelosi, OFMCap (the text will be available online), on the theme “The Lord Gave Me Brothers.”

Back to Assisi: This is a dream come true for the 97 Conventual Franciscans called to St. Francis’ hometown for the Order’s 199th Ordinary General Chapter. Coming back to Assisi is a dream come true especially for Fr. Joachim Anthony Giermek, Minister General of the Order of Friars Minor Conventual, who has been at the head of the Conventual Franciscan family for the last six years.

Today, which was dedicated to prayer and reflection, began with the Solemn celebration of Holy Mass presided by the Minister General, Fr. Joachim Giermek, in the Lower Basilica of St. Francis.  The Mass began with the singing of the Veni Creator Spiritus which reminded the friars in Chapter of the need to invoke the help of the Paraclete at such an important moment as this for our Religious family.

A feeling of great happiness was seen on the faces of the many pilgrims, who were at the Basilica of St. Francis this very afternoon, taken aback by the great number of friars of various races and languages that have come together here at the Sacred Convent.

Fr. Joachim A. Giermek, Minister General of the Order of Friars Minor Conventual, with his Letter dated November 15, 2006, published at the friary of the Santi Apostoli in Rome, convoked the 199^th General Chapter of the Order to be celebrated at the Sacred Convent in Assisi from May 15 to June 20, 2007, indicating both the participants of the Chapter and the themes that will be dealt with.