SFO International Council - Weekly edition
Volume: 7 - N. 5 - 2001 - February - I
From: Koinonia, 2000, N. 3
La Habana, June 11th-18th 2000
In the convent of San Antonio de Miramar of the Friars Minor,
the Seminary for the SFO in Cuba took place. General Assistants,
Father Ben Brevoort, OFMCap and Father Valentín Redondo,
OFMConv spoke here. The themes dealt with were: Franciscan
Spirituality, The History of the Penitential Movement and the
Franciscan Family, Duties of the Secular Persons Responsible in the
SFO, The Promotion of Vocations and Initial Formation and The
Franciscan Youth. Because this was a small group, a direct and
permanent dialogue was established among the participants to delve
into the themes presented.
One should also take note of the enthusiasm the Secular Franciscans
demonstrate in restoring the old fraternities, where possible. One
should also point out the good formation of the participants, as
well as the desire to deepen the spirituality and the life of the
SFO.
On June 26th 2000, Father Valentín Redondomet with the National Council of the SFO in Colombia, in the seat of the "Tercera", in Bogotá.. That afternoon, the encounter between various brothers of different fraternities in the Capital took place. Different themes were dealt with. The day before, the Regional Council of Medellín-Antioquia met with formation as the special topic.
From July 28th to the 30th 2000,
Father Valentín Redondo, OFMConv. took part in the electoral
National Chapter of the National Fraternity of Brazil. The Chapter
took place in the city of Canindé, 120 kms from Fortaleza,
and Sister Maria Apareçida Crepaldi was re-elected. In the
same Chapter, presided by the General Minister Emanuela De Nunzio,
Brother Paulo Machado resigned from his position as International
Councillor.
The days before the National Chapter, Father Valentín
participated in the Brazilian Congress of the Franciscan Family,
taking place from July 22nd to the 26th, for the 500th year
of the Evangelisation of Brazil, baptized by the Portuguese as the
Land of the Holy Cross. The topics dealt with were presented
in three different groups: The Historical Memory of the Lights
and Shadows of the 500 years of Franciscan Presence in Brazil;
Utopia-Charisma and Spirituality; and Challenges and Our
Prophetic Commitments.
In Brasilia, there was an encounter with the local fraternities of
the Federal Capital and surroundings, in the parish of Saint
Francis of Brasilia, and with the Spiritual Assistants for the
Franciscan Friars Minor Conventuals of the Custody of Saint
Maximilian Kolbe of Brasilia. Father Valentín spoke with the
priests, the novices and the postulants of the Custody about the
Secular Franciscan Order.
We use these last few lines to welcome Father Ivan Matic', the General Assistant of the SFO, on the behalf of the Friars Minor. Welcome!
Father Ivan Matic' was born in 1967 and was ordained in 1995. He is a member of the Province of Saints Cyril and Methodius in Croatia. Since 1992, while still a student, he has worked with the Franciscan Youth and since 1995, as a priest, he has dedicated a great deal of time to his pastoral activities at the service of the Franciscan Youth, as well as accompanying various groups of students and adults.
Father Ivan has been the spiritual assistant of the SFO for four years, from 1996 to the end of the month of August 2000, when the General Minister, Father Giacomo Bini, nominated him General Assistant for the Secular Franciscan Order.
Fr. Valentin Redondo, OFMConv.
(Part I)
The theme we will be dealing with is very vast because it includes justice, peace, protecting creation, ecumenism and interreligious dialogue. While dealing with these themes, we must not lose sight of the message given by the Beatitudes, because they are rooted in this "spirit" [1 .
We are asked to build a more fraternal world. To be the edifiers of a building whose foundations must have a good basis means to trust the architect directing the work, because "unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labour in vain" (Ps 127:1). The architect of these grand ideas and plans is the Lord. Our ears must be open, personally and in brotherhood, to listen to the Spirit in the signs of the times, and to discern what is expected of us, as required by Vatican Council II: "to strive to discharge their earthly duties conscientiously and in response to the Gospel spirit" [2 . And as mentioned in the Constitutions, only thus will they be able to take upon themselves "the risk of courageous choices in their life in society" [3 .
More than a definition, this is a choice that emerges from the Gospel. The God of Jesus, and before Him the God of the Fathers, is always for justice and near to the defenceless, the oppressed, the widows, the orphans, the outsiders..., near to the enslaved people He accompanies on their march toward freedom.
On the other hand, Jesus is always near to the poor to tell them about the Kingdom and His justice (cf. Mt 6:33); near to the poor because He "became poor" (2 Cor 8:9), impoverished and "emptied himself" (Phil 2:7); He took sin upon Himself "so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Cor 5:21).
The Church, the sacrament of salvation, is involved in reconciliation and in justice and works towards this. The Puebla Document says: "The real economic progress the continent has experienced indicates the possibility of uprooting extreme poverty and bettering the quality of life of our people. And if possible, this becomes an obligation" [4 .
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