| DAILY NEWS BRIEFING
ENGLISH SPEAKING CONFERENCE O.F.M. |
May 25, 2009 |
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"Just as the first disciples gathered together in the Cenacle with Mary the Mother of Jesus in a context of prayer, let us begin the Ordinary General Chapter of 2009 today by calling down the presence of the Spirit, the true Minister General of the Fraternity, on us. At this time, when we feel urged to give witness to Jesus through life and word 'to the ends of the earth', and given that the Spirit is at the origin of every evangelising mission, we also, like the disciples of Ephesus, feel the need to be baptised again through the presence of the Spirit of the Lord."
- General Minister José Rodríguez Carballo, ofm
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General Chapter 2009 begins with prayer |
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CHAPTER DELEGATES AND STAFF FILE INTO THE PORTIUNCULA TO REVERENCE THE GOSPEL.
SANTA MARIA DEGLI ANGELI - From all over the world, 181 friars have come to the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli for the 187th General Chapter of the Order of Friars Minor.
This month long gathering of the leaders of the Franciscan Order and other delegates began in the heart of the Franciscan world, the Portiuncula or Little Portion. It is here that the Order of Friars Minor of St. Francis of Assisi was born 800 years ago.
The Chapter delegates and staff are staying at the "Domus Pacis", and "Le Stuoie", two structures next door to Santa Maria which will host the plenary assemblies and the 10 workshops (in 7 languages) to be held during the Chapter.
FRIARS GATHER IN FRONT OF SANTA MARIA DEGLI ANGELI
The friars first gathered this morning in the piazza of Santa Maria degli Angeli as a passage from the Life of St. Francis by Thomas of Celano was read in the three official languages of the Order - Italian, Spanish and English. After song and prayer, the friars were led by the General Minister carrying the Book of the Gospels into the Church, eventually into the little Chapel of the Portiuncula where each delegate reverenced the Gospel book.
Following this beginning prayer, the General Minister, presided at the solemn opening Eucharistic Celebration that officially inaugurated the Chapter. The General Minister said in his homily:
"I feel that the Spirit is saying to us today: Friars Minor:
'courage!', 'don't be afraid' to allow yourselves to be conquered by Christ in order to be a prolongation of His humanity into the advance parties of the mission.
'courage!' 'don't be afraid' to broaden the space of your tent in order to go to the ends of the earth and to make the joys and the sadness of the poorest and of those who suffer your own.
'courage!', 'don't be afraid' to live more dependent on Christ each day, because in this way you will be better able to serve Him in others, especially in His suffering faces.
'courage!', 'don't be afraid' to allow yourselves to be seduced by the forgotten and inhuman cloisters, where the beauty and dignity of the person are continually stained because in embracing the lepers of today, you will be embracing Christ Himself, and while you are evangelising them, they will evangelise you.
'courage!', 'don't be afraid' to set up or re-establish constantly the dialogue of charity there where the present-day world is torn apart by ethnic hatred and homicidal madness. Be peace-makers, for in this way you will be witnesses to the God who is love.
Go, Friars Minor, the Spirit of the Lord continues to say to us today, not as owners of the truth, but as humble servants, and freely give what you received free. Go and announce their condition of sons and daughters of the same Father and your brothers to whoever you meet on the roads or in the city squares. Go and remember that the more your community life is fraternal, the more authentically will you be evangelisers. Go and, on the basis of a profound harmony with the person and work of Jesus Christ, open up to new forms of presence and of evangelisation. Go and evangelise in company with the laity, men and women, young and old. Go, and wherever and whatever the activity you develop, give witness to evangelical values by being on the side of those people who do not know Jesus yet."
(Full text of the Opening Homily)
FRIARS GATHER IN FRONT OF THE PORTIUNCULA TO CELEBRATE THE HOLY MASS
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Local officials greet the Chapter |
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BISHOP OF ASSISI DOMENICO SORRENTINO WITH THE GENERAL MINISTER
DOMUS PACIS, SANTA MARIA DEGLI ANGELI - Among the local officials to officially greet the General Chapter were the Bishop of Assisi, Domenico Sorrentino; the Provincial Minister of the Assisi Province; and the Mayor of Assisi Claudio Ricci.
THE PROVINCIAL MINISTER OF ASSISI GREETS CHAPTER DELEGATES.
The English translation of these greetings were not available at publication time. |
| ESC well represented at Chapter |
 DOMUS PACIS - As the General Chapter gets underway, members of the Provinces and Custodies of the English Speaking Conference are well represented among the more than 180 delegates and staff of the month-long meeting with 23 friars from ESC Provinces present in various capacities.
The Conference is represented first and foremost by the 15 member Provincial Minister: John O'Connor, OFM (Holy Name, New York); Caoimhin O'Laoide, OFM (Ireland); Mark LeGoanvec, OFM (St. Joseph, Montreal); Robert Campagna, OFM (Immaculate Conception, New York); Michael Copps, OFM (Immaculate Conception, England); Larry Dunham, OFM (O.L. of Guadalupe, New Mexico); Sandro Overend, OFM (St. Paul, Malta); Leslie Hoppe, OFM (Assumption BVM, Wisconsin); John Hardin, OFM (St. Barbara, California); Astijus Kungys, OFM (St. Casimir, Lithuania); Michael Perry, OFM (Sacred Heart, Missouri); Marko Puljic, OFM (Custody of the Holy Family, Chicago); Jeffrey Scheeler, OFM (St. John the Baptist, Cincinnati); Dennis Vavrek, OFM (Christ the King, Western Canada); and Paul Smith, OFM (Holy Spirit, Australia); and Lay Delegate to the Chapter Gabriel Aceto, OFM (Immaculate Conception, New York).
Additionally, members of the Conference at the Chapter include General Definitor Finian McGinn, OFM (St. Barbara, California); translators William Short, OFM (St. Barbara, California), Patrick Hudson, OFM (Ireland), Philippe Yates, OFM (Immaculate Conception, England) and Edwin Paniagua, OFM (Immaculate Conception, New York); canonist Aidan McGrath, OFM (Ireland); and communications Thomas Washburn, OFM (Immaculate Conception, New York). |
| ESC members chosen for key Chapter roles |
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DOMUS PACIS, SANTA MARIA DEGLI ANGELI - Among the many items of business on this first day of the General Chapter were the elections and appointment to key roles during the Chapter. A few members of the English Speaking Conference delegation were elected or appointed for these roles.
Michael Perry, OFM, Provincial Minister of the Sacred Heart Province, was elected on the first ballot to serve as Moderator of the Chapter. Three moderators are elected and these are key roles of leadership in the Chapter.
PROVINCIAL MINISTER MICHAEL PERRY (SACRED HEART) SHOWN HERE PLACING HIS HANDS ON THE FRANCISCAN RULE WAS ELECTED MODERATOR OF THE CHAPTER.
Gabriel Aceto, OFM, of the Immaculate Conception Province (USA), Lay Delegate to the Chapter, was appointed as Scrutineer, or teller, of the Chapter. Gabriel will be one of six who will oversee the counting of ballots during the various elections that take place during the Chapter.
GABRIEL ACETO, OFM (IMMACULATE CONCEPTION) WAS APPOINTED TELLER FOR THE CHAPTER. |
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