SFO International Council - Weekly edition
Volume: 11 - N. 03 - 2005 - January - III
From: Koinonia, N. 3, 2004
Fr. Valentín Redondo, OFM Conv., was elected Provincial Minister of his Province “Nuestra Senora de Montserrat” in Spain on March 20, 2004. He was also Provincial from 1987 to 1996. In 1996 he was nominated as the General Spiritual Assistant of the OFM Conventuals. He served in this capacity until he was elected as Provincial. The Conference of General Spiritual Assistants remembers his untiring service to the SFO and to the Conference. We thank him and wish him all success in his new office. Dear Fr. Valentín thank you from our heart.
The Conference would like to welcome Fr. Martin Pablo Bitzer, OFM Conv., to the Conference. Fr. Martín, was born on February 5, 1958, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and joined the Conventuals in 1979. He made his first profession at El Bolsón, in the province of Río Negro, on February 15, 1981, and was perpetually professed at Saldán, in the province of Córdoba, on August 3, 1985, and was ordained to the priesthood at La Reja, in province of Buenos Aires, August 15, 1987.
He studied philosophy and theology at Córdoba, Argentina, and obtained his license in biblical theology at the Gregorian University in Rome. He worked in formation, first as Rector of the International College “Seraphicum” in Rome (1989-1993) and then in his province as Master of Novices (1994-1995). He has also taught biblical theology from 1994 to 2004.
During the time of his initial formation Fr. Martin founded a YuFra fraternity and collaborated in the running of an SFO fraternity from 1982 to 1986. From 1996 to 2004 he worked as National Assistant of the SFO in Argentina and Uruguay. The Minister General of the Order, Fr. Joachim A. Giermek, appointed him General Spiritual Assistant General for the SFO on July 2, 2004.
All went very well in Malta. The outgoing Minister, Joe Pace, was prevented from attending due to illness. He sent a moving message to the Chapter which was very much appreciated by everyone.
The theme of the Chapter was: “Renewing Ourselves Once Again.” Godwin Vella Clark was elected as the new National Minister and Charles Grech was reelected as International Councilor.
Benedetto Lino, SFO, represented CIOFS and presided over the Chapter. He was assisted by Fr. Michael Higgins, TOR, General Spiritual Assistant.
The National Spiritual Assistant, Fr. Frans Abela Giusti, OFM Cap., was absent because he was recuperating from a heart operation. Br. Godfrey Zarb, OFM Cap., who had just returned from Nigeria, represented him at the Chapter. The Provincials Fr. Alfred Calleja, OFM Conv., and Fr. Paul Galea, OFM, and the other national assistants, Fr. Alex Borg, OFM, and Fr. Joe Mamo, OFM Conv. were also present for the Chapter. The TOR is not present in Malta.
The newly-elected Capuchin Provincial Minister, Br. Joe Alessandro, was not able to attend because his Provincial Chapter had recently ended and he was meeting with his Minister General, Br. John Corriveau.
From May 13 to 15, 2004, a formation course was held in Madrid for assistants of the SFO and YuFra for the whole of Spain. The course was organized by the National Council of the SFO in Spain. The principal speakers were Fr. Josè R. Carballo, OFM, Minister General, Encarnación del Pozo, SFO, Minister General, and Fr. Ivan Matic, OFM, General Spiritual Assistant.
Forty spiritual assistants representing all the branches of the Franciscan Order present in Spain (OFM, OFM Conv., OFM Cap., and TOR) attended the course. An interesting fraternal dialogue with the speakers followed the presentation. The group work was particularly useful and was followed with great interest by the assistants. The course was important not only for the assistants but for the whole of the SFO in Spain. It is in need of both a new impetus and trained assistants who are able to help the secular brothers and sisters in giving witness in the Church and society.
From June 19 - 20, 2004, the National Elective Chapter of the SFO was held in the Dominican Republic. It was attended by representatives of the 14 regional fraternities in the country (which has approximately 8000 members) with their National Council and CIOFS representatives, Consuelo Núñez, and Fr. Ivan Matic, OFM, General Spiritual Assistant. The Chapter which was also attended by the two National Assistants, Fr. David Vasquez, OFM Cap., and Fr. Fernando Samaniego, OFM, took place in the San Pablo house at Santo Domingo. A most fraternal climate was characteristic of all the sessions. Prior to the elections the Capitulars concentrated on priorities for the next three years which the National Council will assume in order to guide the national fraternity in its mission in Church and society. Altagracia Rodríguez was reelected as the National Minister.
At Cochabamba, at the “Rosa Gattorno” house, the 8th National SFO Chapter of Bolivia took place from June 28 – 30, 2004. The Chapter was presided over by Rosalvo Motta, Vice General Minister of the SFO and was attended by Fr. Ivan Matic, General Spiritual Assistant. The Chapter opened with a presentation of the participants and their fraternities, and continued on the morning of the 29th with a formation session led by Fr. Orlando Cabrera, OFM, National Assistant, and Fr. Ivan Matic who both spoke on the vocation and mission of secular Franciscans. The seminar was followed by work in groups and by general feedback in plenary session. The afternoon was devoted to various reports. Elections took place on June 30 and Enrique Vidaurre was reelected as National Minister. Fr. Rene Vargas, the OFM Provincial Minister, was also present for the latter part of the elections, and presided at the concluding Mass.
Over 2000 representatives of the Italian SFO and YuFra met in Rome from June 26 – 27, 2004, for the closing celebration of the 25th anniversary of the SFO Rule. We enjoyed two days of joyful communion. Present at the meeting in the name of the CIOFS Presidency, were Benedetto Lino, Presidency Councilor, and the two General Spiritual Assistants: Fr. Samy Irudaya and Fr. Ivan Matic. After a fraternal welcome and the recitation of the rosary on the first day at the Basilica of St. John Lateran, a solemn Mass was celebrated at which Cardinal Camillo Ruini presided. All the Secular Franciscans present at the Mass renewed their profession of the Rule. In the evening, at the Church of St Peter and Paul at EUR, there was a fraternal celebration. On Sunday, June 27, the Secular Franciscans and their assistants made their way to St Peter’s Square in the Vatican to share in the recitation of the Angelus with the Pope. The Holy Father had a special greeting for the Secular Franciscans present in the square.
The pastoral and fraternal visit to the SFO in Malaysia took place from July 29 to August 14, 2004. Lucy Almiranez and Fr. Irudaya Samy, OFM Cap., General Spiritual Assistant, were present as delegates of the Presidency and of CIOFS. The presence and support of the Fr. Valentine, OFM. Cap., Assistant to the SFO in Malaysia, and Serena Woon, Vice Regional Minister of the SFO, were a great help in the preparation and success of the visit. Lucy and Fr. Samy visited SFO fraternities from West Malaysia and Sabah Fraternities. They discussed the possibility of making West Malaysia, Sabah and Singapore into one National Fraternity. Lucy left Malaysia on August 1st and Fr. Irudaya Samy remained 17 days to meet with the Tamil speaking and Chinese speaking and was able to provide some formation classes for them. He had to travel long distances to meet with the SFO fraternities. Though it was very tedious, he met with all the Tamil speaking fraternities, listened to their difficulties and proposed some practical suggestions. In his presentations he insisted on the importance of formation. The spiritual assistant, Fr. John Anandan, OFM Cap., is very interested in giving formation to Tamil speaking fraternities. Fr. Michael Raymond, OFM Cap., the custos of the Capuchin friars of Malaysia, Fr. Irudaya Samy, Fr. Valentine, and Serena met Archbishop Murphy Pakiam at Bukit Nanas, Kuala Lumpur, in his residence. Fr. Samy reassured the Bishop that the SFO always works closely with the church hierarchy. Serena gave the Archbishop a copy of the SFO Rule, General Constitutions, Ritual, and a brochure on the SFO in Malaysia.
Profession: On August 8, 2004, Lilian Ching, Adel Chong, and Cecile Law who belong to the St. Jude Fraternity in Penang were perpetually professed. Fr. Irudaya Samy, Br. Michael Teng, OFM. Cap., the spiritual assistant of St. Jude Fraternity, and members of the fraternity were present. Fr. Samy celebrated the Eucharist, gave an inspiring homily, and congratulated the newly professed members.
Cheras: On August 11, 2004, five temporary professed members made their perpetual profession at the Church of St. Francis of Assisi, Kuala Lumpur. Fr. Irudaya Samy celebrated the Eucharist and Frs. Michael Raymond, Valentine and Mathews Joe concelebrated with him. It was a solemn and memorable profession with more than 100 brothers and sisters from various fraternities. One secular sister, Paulin, from Singapore and many people from the parish also participated in this function.
The fraternities presently depend a lot on the Assistants for formation. Formation is very much needed, and an ageing membership, lack of youths, lack of unity, difference in languages, canonical status and direction for National Fraternity were the main concerns during the visitation. Lucy and Fr. Samy also made a friendly visit to the Singapore fraternity and spoke to them about forming one National Fraternity.