SFO International Council - Weekly edition
Volume: 9 - N. 5 - 2003 - January - V
From: Koinonia, 2002, n. 4
The meeting of the Conference of Assistants General (CAS) was held in the General Curia of the Conventual Friars on 16th September 2002. The preparation for the General Chapter of the SFO was one of the main topics of the meeting. The Report of the CAS and the liturgy for the General Chapter were discussed. It was decided to prepare a booklet with all the texts and hymns of the liturgy for each day of the Chapter. The final preparations for the Course for Assistants to the SFO in Frascati from the 7th to 29th October 2002 were also discussed.
The Conference of Assistants General met in the Secretariat of the CIOFS on 30th October 2002. Besides the four Assistants General, the following were also at the meeting: The SFO Minister General, Emanuele De Nunzio, the new OFMCap Assistant General, Br. Samy Irudhaya, the three National Assistants to the SFO that had attended the Formation Course for Assistants in Frascati: Br. Pervaz Daniel, OFM, Pakistan, Br. Damian Kim, OFM, Korea, and Br. Adelino Pereira, OFM, Portugal. The Minister General informed the Assistants present about the situation of the SFO and about the news concerning the preparation for the General Chapter. The President of the Conference, Br. Valentín, explained the working of the Conference of Assistants to the National Assistants, after which they dialogued about various experiences.
Emanuela informed the Assistants General about the latest news on the situation of the Recourse made to the Apostolic Signatura. She sent letters to Card. Martinez Somalo, Prefect of the CIVCSVA, to Card. Pompedda, Prefect of the Supreme Tribunale of the Apostolic Signatura and also to the Secretary of State, Card. Sodano, informing them of the situation that has come about recently. Emanuela also sent the four Ministers General a letter about the situation, asking for support and help in resolving the problems that have arisen. The question of preparation for the General Chapter was taken up again, reviewing point by point the following topics: the Liturgy for the Chapter, the presence of delegates from the Congregations at the Chapter, the Report of the Presidency to the Chapter, the Report of the CAS, the Report from the Treasurer of the CIOFS Presidency, Work in Groups during the Chapter, The Presentation of the Statutes of the FIOFS, the Day of the "round table", the Papal Audience, the Pilgrimage to Assisi, etc. It was decided to have another meeting on 2nd November 2002 in the CIOFS Secretariat for an up-date on all questions about the General Chapter.
Honduras - Encarnación del Pozo and Br. Valentín presided at the elective Chapter in Honduras from the 16th to 18th August 2002. During the Chapter the need to hold meetings of both the Council and of Assistants in the centre of the country, due to the great distances, was spoken about.
Guatemala - Br. Valentìn was present at the Chapter celebrated from the 9th to 11th August 2002 in Guatemala. The Chapter was presided over by Encarnación del Pozo. The whole Council was renewed and a maturing of those responsible was noted. They are working well with all the Franciscan Family.
Venezuela - The Chapter was celebrated from the 6th to the 8th September, presided by Alicia with the presence of Br. Pedro Prado Lopez as delegate of the CAS.
Central African Republic. - Felix Mbete and Br. Ben were present at the elective Chapter in the Central African Republic from the 5th to 8th September. The first three days were dedicated to formation in the SFO and Fra.Youth, while the other days were given over to the celebration of the Chapter. The Bishop of Bangui, Mons. Mathos, who also gave a report on the role of the laity in the Church and in the world, was present during the time of the Chapter.
South Africa - Wilhelmina and Br. Ivan Matic were present at the elective Chapter of South Africa that was celebrated in Cape Town from the 6th to 8th September. Despite the enormous distances that exist in the country there were 25 people present from various parts. The Chapter was very well prepared with good participation by all the Chapter Members. Wilhelmina remained on a further three days in order to finish work on the National Statutes that must be presented to the CIOFS Presidency for approval.
Cuba - Br. Ivan Matic and Encarnación del Pozo, visited the SFO Fraternity of Cuba from the 3rd to 8th October 2002. The Eucharist was celebrated in the church of St. Francis in the ancient city of Havana on the 4th October. Cardinal Jaime Ortega presided at the Mass with the participation of the Secular Franciscans and their Assistants. On the 5th of October the National elective Chapter was held in the church of Jesus de Miramar, Havana. Jorge Luis González was elected as the new National Minister. There were various meetings with members of the outgoing Council and with the Assistants before the Chapter in order to know the situation of the SFO National Fraternity better. The National Fraternity of Cuba is composed of 12 local Fraternities.
Brazil - From the 17th to the 20th October 2002, the fraternal and pastoral visits to the National Council of Brazil were carried out by the Presdincy of the CIOFS with the presence of the Minister General, Emanuela De Nunzio, and of the Assistant General, Br. Valentín Redondo, OFMConv. The meeting on the first day was held in the headquarters of the Council in Rio di Janeiro. On the following days the meeting was held in the Hospital of the Venerable Third Order of St. Francis of Penance, where so many Secular Franciscans carry out voluntary work. The National Minister, Maria Apareçida Crepaldi, and the Council prepared the visit very well. The National territory is vast but there is a structure in place for the animation and guidance of the regional and local Fraternities. The fraternal and welcoming climate lived by the National Council helps a lot in this regard.
Meetings in Padua and Aquila - Br. Valentín Redondo, together with Br. Valentino Fiscon, OFMConv., National Assistant, had a meeting with the local Assistants from the Province of Padua on the 24th September 2002. The topic was The role of the Spiritual Assistant in the light of the new Statutes for Assistance to the SFO. The regional Ministers and regional Assistants of the Franciscan Family in Veneto came to the meeting in the afternoon.
Br. Valentín Redondo, together with Br. Valentino Fiscon, had a meeting with the Friars of the OFMConv. Province of Abruzzo in Aquila on the 4th November 2002. The topic was The Secular Franciscan Order Today. A long discussion to deepen knowledge of and to know better the role of the SFO in our times and its relationship within the Franciscan Family followed the presentation.
Toronto - WYD 2002 - Pedro Nuno and Br. Ivan Matic were in Canada from the 23rd to 28th July for the XVII World Youth Day as representatives of the CIOFS Presidency. There was also an International Meeting of Franciscan Youth Delegates, organised by Pedro and Br. Ivan in the name of the Presidency, in the Parish of St. Francis, Toronto, on the 25th July. More than fifty representatives from 14 countries and a good number of Secular Franciscans from the local SFO Fraternity were present. The delegates of Fra.Youth went to Exhibition Place for the meeting with the Pope in the afternoon of the 25th July. The 27th, when the vigil with the Holy Father was celebrated, and the concluding Mass on the 28th, with more than 800,000 young people present, were great experiences. The days were full of joy, prayer, communion, meetings and reflections on the main topic of this XVII WYD, "You are the salt of the earth... You are the light of the world".
The Conference of the General Assistants well organised a formation course for the SFO spiritual assistants from all over the world at Frascati-Rome. It was held from 7th to 28th oct.2002.The main speakers and resource persons were Emanuela De Nunzio, Minister General, Bruna Budini and Benedetto Lino (OFS It.) and the General Assistants Br. Valentin Redondo OFMCap, Br. Ivan Matic OFM, Br. Michael Higgins TOR and Br. Ben Brevoort OFMCap.
The aim and purpose of this formation seminar was to provide an occasion for the spiritual assistants feeling of international fraternity, to revive the evangelical Franciscan spirit, to deepen the knowledge of SFO, to create fraternal affection towards the SFO, and to be formed as a bond of communion between first order and SFO. It was very enriching experience for all 38 participants. Working together, praying together, studying together, discussing together and playing together naturally brought them close to one another. They all had the first Apostolic Community experience. Though there were many languages but all friars spoke only one language called "Franciscan Love" language. They gave witness that it was possible to live together in the different cultures.
The seminar was opened by Br. Ben celebrating the Eucharist. The mass, para-liturgical services and Hymns which were in different languages added beauty, interest and devotion to prayer. The participants were very happy with the opportunity to deepen the various aspects of the SFO spirituality, the responsibilities of the spiritual assistants towards SFO brothers and sisters, SFO today, the history if the SFO, SFO active presence in the church and in the world, the formation of spiritual assistance, and practical aspects of YUFRA. Every talk was followed by a fruitful general discussion. They had a pilgrimage to Viterbo, Cortona, Foligno, Assisi and La Verna. In Cortona Fr. Teobaldo OFMCap. Inspired all of them by his thought provoking sharing on "Franciscan Penance".
Assisi being the birth place of St. Francis, all friars went back to recapture the original spirit of St. Francis. La Verna where St. Francis had the unique experience of Stigmata helped each one to plunge into deep meditation. In all holy places we had meaningful celebration of Eucharist. This pilgrimage deepened the Franciscan charism in their hearts and mind. At the end of the seminar, the participants expressed their gratitude for this unique occasion. The all appreciated the resource persons and thanked the formation staffs and Guardian at Frascati for providing good food and all facilities to conduct this course to good success. The participants promised their co-operation and in one voice proclaimed that this seminar would bear much fruit in their lives.
With fraternal joy we warmly welcome Br. Samy Irudaya, the new General Assistant to the SFO on the part of the OFMCap.
Br. Samy Irudaya was born in South India in 1948 and is a member of Amala Annai Province, Tamil Nadu in South India. The Capuchin General Definitory at its meeting on June 24, 2002 his Minister General Br. John Corriveau appointed him as the General Spiritual Assistant of the SFO. 13 years he worked in the formation, many years he was Regional spiritual assistant to SFO and has great experience and knowledge of SFO. Wish him all the best.