SFO International Council - Weekly edition
Volume: 9 - N. 13 - 2003 - March - IV
From: Koinonia, 2003, n. 1
The annual meeting (tempo forte) of the Conference of Assistants General was held in the convent of Saints Ansano and Anthony of the Conventual Friars, Spoleto, from 2nd till 6th December 2002. All four Assistants General were present at the meeting.
The first part of the meeting was given over to ordinary activities and to the information and various requests that had come to the Conference. The Assistants worked especially on the decisions and priorities of the SFO that had come from the recent General Chapter, celebrated in Rome during November 2002. The 25th anniversary of the new SFO Rule, approved by Pope Paul VI, an event that is very important for the SFO, was also stressed. It will take place during 2003. For that reason the Assistants General have decided to prepare various themes for the Koinonia with strong reference to this celebration. Koinonia, during 2003, will have as its main topic the 25th anniversary of the SFO Rule with various themes that will be prepared by the Assistants General. It will be subdivided in the following way: Active presence of the Secular Franciscans in the Church and the world; Formation of the Secular Franciscans; Vital reciprocal communion in the Franciscan Family; SFO Rule -- A document of inspiration for Fra.Youth.
Two full days were dedicated by the Conference to the drafting of the Chapter synthesis and proposals in order to prepare all the material for the meeting of the Presidency in March 2003. In the latter part of the meeting, the calendar of meetings of the Conference was drawn up for 2003. Besides that, the whole programme of pastoral visitations, presence at Chapters, the diverse courses for Assistants and other foreseen events was drawn up for the coming year.
The meeting of the Conference of Assistants General was held in the OFM General Curia, on Monday the 13th January. Br. Valentín, Br. Michael, Br. Ivan and Benedetto Lino, representative of the Presidency of the CIOFS, were present. The meeting was held to review the conclusions of the General Chapter and to prepare them for the meeting of the Presidency that will be held in Rome from the 28th March till the 5th April 2003.
The 56th National Congress of the Italian Franciscan Youth took place in Frascati from the 28th November till the 1st December. The main topic of the Congress was "THE WORD OF GOD: LAW OF MAN... the Franciscan youth in the footprints of the Beatitudes". On the 29th November, Br. Ivan Matic, OFM, greeted the participants in the congress and those responsible for the National Fraternity of the Fra.Youth in the name of the Conference of Assistants General. Br. Ivan also celebrated the Mass at the conclusion of the congress on the 1st December in the Church of Borgo Santo Spirito in Sassia, close to the Basilica of St. Peter in Rome. After the Eucharistic celebration the congress members participated in the praying of the Angelus by the Holy Father in St. Peter's Square with a multitude of pilgrims from all over the world. During the greetings to all the pilgrims in the square, the Holy Father saluted in a special way the participants of the 56th National Congress of the Italian Fra.Youth.
A course on franciscanism, with the slogan, "In vital reciprocal communion", was celebrated in Galapagar, close to Madrid, from the 26th till the 28th December 2002. There were 63 participants, 24 Secular Franciscans, 1 OFMCap. and 38 OFMConv. Friars. The topics developed were: Identity and mission of the Secular Franciscan Order by Emanuela De Nunzio; The programming documents of the SFO, the renewed Constitutions by Encarnación del Pozo; Franciscan Youth(FRA.Youth) by Pedro Asensio and Br. Miguel Campillo; The Secular Franciscans in the Franciscan Family and the Spiritual Assistance to the SFO, Br. Valentín Redondo. There was active participation with seven study groups and one round-table to deepen the communion that unites all in one charism.
The 20th National Chapter and 12th elective Chapter of the Korean SFO was celebrated in Seoul from the 17th to 19th January '03. Theresa Han was elected as the new National Minister. The elective session was presided over by Lucy Almirañes, International Councillor of the Presidency of the CIOFS and Delegate of the Minister General of the SFO. Br. Ivan Matic, OFM, was present in the name of the Conference of Assistants General. The Chapter was well prepared and there was very good participation. Among the works carried out during the Chapter, the revision of the National Statutes was of outstanding importance. This now awaits the approval of the Presidency of the CIOFS. The National Fraternity of Korea is organised into 12 regional fraternities and 117 local fraternities with more than 10,000 members.
A course for Assistants to the SFO of Italy was held in the Spirituality Centre "Domus Laetitiae" in Assisi from the 27th till 31st January '03. Held on a yearly basis, the course is always an occasion of meeting, formation and sharing among all the Friars that are at the service of the diverse Fraternities of the SFO/Fra.Youth. This year there was an attempt, with the help of various interventions, at a deep study of the topic "The Assistant to the SFO, servant of the Word of God". Three General Assistants, Br Valentín Redondo, Br. Samy Irudaya and Br. Ivan Matic, attended on the 29th January to present the new Statutes for Assistance, which had been approved by the Conference of Ministers General on the 28th March 2002. An interesting and fraternal dialogue among the Assistants followed the presentation. The course was certainly of great importance, not only for the Assistants, but also for the whole SFO of Italy, which needs trained Assistants united in the common service of the Secular Franciscans.
From this year on, 2003, "The Letter from Rome to the Assistants" will no longer be issued four times a year as it has been up to now, but only when there is important information to give to the SFO Assistants.