| General Chapter closes with Solemn Eucharist |
SANTA MARIA DEGLI ANGELI - The 187th Chapter of the Order of Friars Minor came to an end with the solemn Eucharistic concelebration in the Basilica of the Portiuncula.
After a month of deliberations, the Chapter at last came to its conclusion for the 152 delegates who came from all corners of the world to gather in Assisi for this historic moment in the life of the Order.
The day began as Chapter delegates gathered in the main aula at 9 a.m. for a final address to the Chapter by General Minister Jose Rodriguez Carballo, OFM, in which he thanked everyone for their various contributions to the success of the Chapter.
CHAPTER DELEGATES GATHER IN SANTA MARIA DEGLI ANGELI FOR THE CLOSING LITURGY
He also once again found the opportunity to underline the efforts of the past years to strenghten the fraternal relationships between the Entities of the Order. He referred also to the fact that there has been a growth of awareness in understanding that the Gospel is a Gift to be received and offered to others. This was in direct reference to the Final document "Bearers of the Gift of the Gospel." This document has not yet been made public.
In his address, the General Minister said, "Where should we live and announce the Gospel? Wherever men live, wherever they suffer, work and hope. It is the spacious cloister of the world, in the innumerable inhuman cloisters, as we often repeat, where we are called to make ours the joys and sadness of the men and women of our times, particularly of the poorest and of those who suffer most, and to cast a positive eye over the contexts and cultures in which we are immersed, discovering unheard-of occasions of grace that the Lord offers us. We cannot separate ourselves from people. We, like the high-priest of the Old Testament have also been chosen from among the people, to be sent to them. It is there, inter gentes, particularly in frontier and conflictive places, that we are sent to confess the Gospel after we have allowed ourselves to be conquered by Him and, therefore, with the power from on high, to transform the heart and life of our contemporaries."
ESC FRIARS ROBERT CAMPAGNA, OFM (IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, USA); LARRY DUNHAM, OFM (O.L. GUADALUPE); AND PATRICK HUDSON, OFM (IRELAND) BEFORE MASS
The Chapter delegates also offered their heartfelt thanks to the 29 officials who during the past four weeks offered their services for the smooth running of the Chapter: the Secretary, vice secretaries and those assigned to secretariat together with the private secretary to the minister, the bursar, translators, interpreters, assistants, experts and communication officials.
Following this gathering in the aula, the Chapter came to its formal conclusion with a Solemn Mass celebrated in the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli. Again, the General Minister was the presider and homilist. In his homily Br. José again commemorated the 800 years of the Franciscan movement. He emphasized the fact that the diversity of language and culture, which have always characterized the Order, even in this experience of chapter, are a wealth in order to comprise in depth the will of God.
THE GENERAL MINISTER, VICAR GENERAL AND GENERAL DEFINITORS PROCESS THROUGH THE PORTIUNCULA AT THE BEGINNING OF MASS
He said, "We are very aware that the mission which awaits us is arduous. The ground in which we have to sow the seed of the Gospel, the heart of mankind, is full of obstacles, as the parable of the sower reminds us. But we are equally aware that the germinating power of the seed of the Word of God has not diminished. We live at a time of crisis, which, for some, possibly implies a mortal threat and for others a trial of faith in the Lord of history and in His unfailing presence. The time that it has been our fate to live is delicate and decisive. But we have to be very aware that this is the time of God and, as such, reveals new opportunities, purifies, awakens potentialities, unveils signs of the future and of resurrection."
Full text of the General Minister's HomilyAll the Friars, after the Eucharist, were guests of the Fraternity of the Portiuncula for lunch. In the afternoon most left St. Mary of the Angels to return to their Provincial Freternities.
During the four working weeks (which began on May 24th) the 152 delegates, representing the about 15,000 friars present in all the world, have examined the state of the Order and together outlined the way for the coming six years.
JOHN HARDIN, OFM (ST. BARBARA) PROCLAIMS THE FIRST READING
The final document, entitled "Bearers of the Gift of the Gospel" illustrates some ways with which today's world, so much different from that at the time of St. Francis, the Friars Minor want to preach the Gospel.
The document states that our mission is among today's peoples, having the others and not oneself at centre stage, in an attitude of sympathy towards the world, trying to understand and be understood by all peoples and cultures. Such engagement many a time translates in leaving to go to other countries to live among people of other languages and cultures and render present to all the gift of the Gospel. Evangelization thus assumes a spirituality that even pays attention to the values of justice, peace, integrity of creation and makes of the brothers bridges of dialogue, encounter and reconciliation.
THE GENERAL MINISTER HANDS A GIFT TO GENERAL DEFINITOR FRANCIS WALTER, OFM (IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, USA)
The Chapter approved over 100 proposals with almost half of them regarding the revision of the legislation of the Order (General Statutes). The others indicate the path to follow for a renewed personal and fraternal formation of friars which keeps in mind today's time in view of a missionary and social engagement capable of understanding the problems of today's society.
The chapter added or re-enforced missionary projects in different areas of the world all to be undertaken between 2009 and 2015. There is a strong emphasis on themes of justice, peace and ecology.
The synthesis of the events of the Chapter and what has been decided by the 152 delegates will be presented to the press during a Press Conference on Monday 22nd June at 11.00 am from the General Curia.
|
| Thank you for reading! |
 ROME - It is hard to believe that the four weeks of the General Chapter have now come and gone. In one way it seems like so much longer, and yet in another it seems like it had just begun.
I have avoided any sort of commentary throughout this month, but as I send out this final installment of the General Chapter Daily Briefing for the friars and friends of the English-speaking world, I did want to take a moment to say, "Thanks for reading."
As you may know, this service of providing a daily summary of the events of the Chapter was a first-time effort. This has not been done before. I am extrememly grateful to all of you who have taken a moment here and there over the last month to send me a note and a word of appreciation for these emails. Your words have been very encouraging along the way, and have also let me know that someone is reading!
I have no way of knowing how far and wide these updates went, but I know they have bene sent to the United States, Canada, England, Ireland, Malta, Australia and New Zealand, the Netherlands, Lithuania and more. I know that more than 5,000 unique visits have been made to the photo gallery page and nearly the videos on our You Tube page have been viewed nearly 1,000 times.
This has been a spectacular event to be a part of as the ministers of our Order have gathered from around the world in Assisi - coming from literally every corner, speaking more languages that you can imagine, bringing a diversity of cultural, fraternal and spiritual experiences with them. We are a large and diverse family. What an honor to experience these events, to pray in the places so special to Our Holy Father Francis and Our Holy Mother Clare. I hope that you have had some hint of that experience through these updates.
I'll end with a quote from our General Minister in his report to the Chapter. He wrote, ""I dream of a Franciscan life that is more contemplative, in which we as brothers may move with passion, open to the breath of the Spirit...I dream of a Franciscan life that becomes a prophetic cry of the Absolute of God in a world in which idols multiply and faith is weakening or distorted."
It has been a pleasure and an honor to serve you in this way over the course of this last month; to share with you the dreams of the leadership of our Provinces and our Order.
Thank you for reading! Pace e bene!
Fraternally,
Tom Washburn, OFM
Executive Secretary
English Speaking Conference of the Order of Friars Minor |  This DAILY NEWS BRIEF is produced by and for the friars of the English Speaking Conference of the Order of Friars Minor. Executive Secretary: Thomas Washburn, OFM.
|
|
|
