SFO International Council
Volume: 1 - N. 12 - 1995 - September - II
From: Koinonia, 1995, N. 3
Carl Schäfer OFM accompanied Emanuela De Nunzio, Minister General SFO, who presided over the National electoral Chapter of the SFO, in the Capuchin Convent "Paz y Bien", Santo Domingo, 1112 March, 1995. Maria Idalia de Jesús was re-elected National Minister. After the Chapter, the visitors met a thousand Secular Franciscans after a Mass, toured the city's historical centre, and were guests in the homes of David Silberberg, International Councillor, and of Enma García, National Councillor. The National Fraternity of eleven thousand members, in 206 local Fraternities, is assisted by Fr. Balbino Pineda Galvez OFM Cap.
Emanuela and Fr Carl visited Colombia, 14-21 March, 1995. Emanuela was guest at the SFO Casa Santa Isabela and Fr Carl at the OFM Convent San Francisco, Santafé de Bogotá, before they moved to the Capuchin house at Tranquilandia for the National electoral Chapter, 18-20 March. Representatives of all the local Fraternities, assisted by three obediences of friars, elected María Teresa Michelena Pinto as National Minister. They had previously established ten Regional Fraternities and had elected Regional representatives. Fr Carl held a meeting with seven Assistants, including Héctor Lugo García OFM, Minister Provincial. The visitors met the Poor Clares in Chiquinquirá.
During the week-end of May 7-9, 1995, Br. Ben visited the SFO Fraternities of the South-California region, accompanied by the regional Minister, Dan Medina and the national Assistant, Fr. Camillus MacRory, OFM Cap. The first meeting took place at the noviciate of the Conventual Friars, St Joseph of Cupertino, where about 80 Secular Franciscans gathered from the northern part of the region. Present were also the Provincial Minister and other Conventual Assistants. The next day's meeting was held in the mission of San Luis Rey. A hundred secular Franciscans of six communities attended. The meeting was multi-cultural, due to the presence of seculars from Mexico and of representatives from a Korean community and from two other Spanish-speaking Fraternities. The last evening, immediately before his departure for Oceania, Br. Ben met sixty representatives from four communities of Los Angeles, assisted by the Friars Minor and the Capuchins, together with their Assistants. Here too the multi-cultural character of the region was quite evident. The regional Fraternity is taking its first steps to start the Franciscan Youth, especially but not exclusively, among youngsters coming from families with a Spanish, Filipino and Korean background.
From 23 to 28 Mary, Fr. Carl and Margret Mertens (Germany) visited the group that has formed in the past five years in Latvia, inspired by St. Francis. Mara Zake, gynecologist in the former Soviet government, after reading Jörgensen's "-St. Francis of Assisi-", opened "-Ave Maria-", an overnight shelter for homeless children in Riga. Other lay persons joined her and their Franciscan spirit radiated from there. The present government placed Mara in charge of the vacated Russian naval hospital, now called "-Stella Maris-", as a refuge for the aged and handicapped. Fr. Carl blessed the chapel after visiting Archbishop Janis Pujats. He stayed with the Capuchins who have recently returned to Riga and now assist the lay group at St. Albert's Church. Fr. Carl spent a morning there with 30 members. He visited an extension of the group in Madona where they are helping to restore a building and run an orphanage. In Riga, Fr. Carl spoke to an ecumenical group of ecologists interested in St. Francis. Mara based the lay group on the practice of love as expressed in the Gospel and in the name of St. Francis. They are translating the basic documents and want to follow the Secular Franciscan way of life.
Fr. Carl stayed with Fr. Fiorenzo Reati OFM in Saint Petersburg form 28 May till 1 June. On three evenings, at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, he had extended meetings with the lay Franciscan group of ten members, and their spiritual Animator Sr. Krystyna Dombrowska FMM. The church, connected with the French Embassy, always remained open. The parish is conducted by two Latvian Friars Minor. Two members, who attended the Seminar in Krakow in 1993, will be ready for profession in October. Six want to begin the year of initial formation officially.
Conference of General Assistants
22-25 April, 1995: The four General Assistants met in St Fidelis Guesthouse, Via Cairoli, Rome, for their annual "long meeting". Emanuela De Nunzio, Minister General SFO, and Argia Passoni, National Minister in Italy, shared their ideas with the Conference on the pastoral role of the Assistant. Among the major points discussed were: replies of canonists to our inquiry into the difference between Assistant and Animator; observations received on the Statutes for Assistance; plan for a Manual for SFO Leaders; review of the "Indications for the Formation of the Friars regarding the SFO".
Presidency of International Council SFO
28 April - 4 May, 1995: All members except Inmaculada Sainz (Franciscan Youth) were present at the Mother of Mercy House, Rome. Frs David Fitzgerald and William Martin, S.A. (Franciscans of the Atonement) addressed the meeting on ecumenism. Seventeen points were included in the agenda. Among the most important were: the recognition of National Fraternities; a comprehensive statement on Franciscan Youth; criteria for the election of International Councillors of Franciscan Youth; Manual for SFO leaders, including Assistants; personal Fraternities; associate membership; the agenda of the General Chapter 1996. The General Chapter will be held in the same house, Via di Monte Cucco, 25, which was found to be very satisfactory.
The "Antonianum" Pontifical Athenæum
1. Dissertations for Licentiate:
Da SILVA José Soares, OFM Cap., Aspectos evangelico-socias da regra da ordem franciscana secular, Roma 1991, pp. 95. Mod. García Bernardino OFM Cap.
ETZI Priamo OFM, L'ordine dei frati minori e l'ordine francescano secolare nel diritto codiciale della Chiesa e nel loro diritto proprio attuale, Roma 1992, pp. XXVI-97, Mod. Boni Andrea OFM.
2. Doctoral theses on the SFO after 1978 and until 1993:
PANCZAK M., OFM, L'apostolato dell'Ordine Francescano Secolare nei suoi aspetti teologici e storici e nelle sue forme concrete, Roma 1991, pp. XXXV-561. Disc. 11/26/91. Mod. Iriarte L. OFM Cap.
ETZI Priamo OFM, L'Altius moderamen del Can.303 CIC 1983 nell'organizzazione dell'Ordine Francescano Secolare, Roma 1994. Disc. 6/16/94. Mod. Boni Andrea OFM.