SFO International Council - Weekly edition
Volume: 11 - N. 08 - 2005 - February - IV
From: CIOFS Bulletin, 2005, N. 7
In October 2, 2004, due to gastric bleeding, Fr. Jaime Zudaire, OFMCap, former General Assistant of the SFO, passed away.
He was born in Lezáun (Spain) September 3, 1925, the sixth of eight children. He made his first profession in 1944 and was ordained in 1948. He became director of the Capuchin magazine “Verdad y Caridad” and spiritual director at the Lecároz College as well as the pastoral Course of his Province. He participated in the team promoting the “Movement for a Better World” in Rome, in Spain and in Colombia, where he was appointed Director of the Secretariat for Permanent Formation of the Conference of Bishops. He was often invited to preach spiritual exercises and formation courses in various countries in Latin America. Called to Rome in 1974 to assume the position of General Assistant of the SFO, he faithfully worked as such for 16 years (Sept. 11, 1974 – Nov. 1st, 1990), most important years for the renewal and the development of the SFO in the world and in the Church.
The dedication and contributions of Fr. Jaime determined the post counciliar journey of the SFO, above all because of his patient editorial work of the New Rule, of the Ritual and of the General Constitutions of the SFO. He integrated and supported all with a patient and intelligent work of formation for spiritual assistants and of the Secular Franciscans through courses and seminars and the periodical “Tertius Ordo” and other writings. Still often used is his book Con Francesco alla sequela di Cristo. Introduzione alla spiritualità e all’organizzazione dell’Ordine Francescano Secolare (Following Christ with Francis: Introduction to the spirituality and organization of the Secular Franciscan Order).
In an article written at the time of his leaving the position of General Assistant, Fr. Jaime said: “the sisters and brothers [of the SFO] have confirmed my conviction that the secular dimensions of Franciscan spirituality are a living reality in the Church of today” and referring to his religious confreres he affirmed: “In order to discover the reality of the Fraternity one must experience it by living it, from the inside. Thus one comes to the realization that to promote the Secular Franciscan Order is a valid reason to live by”.
Communicating to the Secular Franciscans the news of his death, Encarnación del Pozo, General Minister of the SFO, stressed that “all our national Fraternities profited by his visitations, sharing a little of his wisdom, his gentleness with everyone. In our Rule and Constitutions we find pieces of his soul. Those of us who had the privilege of participating with him in the recent VI Latin American Congress had yet a chance of enjoying his prudent counsel, his love, and his dedication, to his last breath, in the service of assistance to the SFO.”
International Congress of the Catholic Action – From August 31 to September 2 was held in Rome, at the “Domus Pacis”, a congress promoted by the International Forum of the Catholic Action (FIAC) and the Italian Catholic Action (ACI) in collaboration with Pontifical Council for the Laity with the theme “The Catholic Action in the Third Millennium”. More than 250 people were invited to the Congress among them numerous Bishops, priests and lay, from various countries of the world. Monsignor Stanislaw Rylko, Prefect of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, spoke on the theme “Catholic Action, gift of the Spirit to the Church of our time”, while Dr. Paola Bignardi, President of the Italian Catholic Action presented the planning manifesto “A Catholic Action for the Third Millennium”. The testimonials and the sharing of experiences about the presence of Catholic Action in various countries and continents were very interesting.
After the Roman work sessions, the Congress made a pilgrimage to Loreto, which has seen thousands of adherents of the ACI and other associations and movements. The most important moment took place on Sunday September 5, with the solemn Eucharistic celebration presided by the Holy Father, during which three members of the Association were beatified: the physician and priest Pedro Tarres y Claret, from Barcelona, and young Alberto Marvelli and Pina Suriano, both Italians.
Europe – From 25 July to 8 August, the 26th “EUFRA Encounter” took place in Hopsten (Germany), in the Bernard-Otto house. This encounter, organized and animated by the untiring Margaret Mertens and Walburga Hack, had this topic: “Jesus Christ, source of hope for Europe”. Eighty three people participated coming from: Belgium, Byelorussia, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Lettonia, Lithuania, Poland, Rumania, The Netherlands, Ukraine and Hungary. These are people who live every day the spirit of Francis of Assisi. The Franciscan spirituality strongly stimulates the “Christian roots” of Europe, about which the Holy Father strongly insisted. Saint Francis rediscovered the Gospel as the only rule for the Christian life. A new Europe demands much from us. Its future cannot consist only in the development of a consumerist thought, but it must stretch to search for peace and the sense of our life, in love and in hope.
In 2005, for the next “EUFRA Encounter”, the members of the European SFO will meet again in Poland, not far from Warsaw.
Latin America – From September 14-19, 2004 in Mexico City, at the Mexican Bishops Conference residence, the VI Latin American Congress of the SFO and YOUFRA took place. We are giving here only a synthesis, since the program of the meeting is described day by day on the web page of the Mexican YOUFRA, but we plan to give more news in the next issue. The theme of the presentations was “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace” introduced by Encarnación del Pozo, General Minister, who presided over the whole Congress, assisted by the General Assistant Fr. Ivan Matic, OFM, and by the Councilor of the Presidency for the Spanish language, Chelito de Nuñez. The General Assistants Fr. Samy Irudaya, OFM Cap, and Fr. Martin Bitzer OFM Conv, as well as the Councilor of the Presidency for YOUFRA, Xavi Ramos, also attended.
In the next sessions, reports from the national groups of participants were presented, about specific themes, all of relevant interest for the mission of the SFO and the YOUFRA in the Church, in the Franciscan Family, and in society:
The work, in assembly and in study groups, was part of a rich program of liturgical celebrations and very inspiring devotions, which included an unforgettable pilgrimage to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. There were also moments of relaxation and fraternal joy, such as the visit to the historical center of Mexico City, and a Latin American “fiesta”.
by the Editors
We received a very interesting and documented communication from Janvière and Sylvère Havugimana, a couple of secular Franciscans who, since the past ten years, operate like "Sowers of Peace" in the country where they work, Rwanda. Sylvère is member of the diocesan Pastoral Council and the diocesan Commission for the Family. Janvière takes care of the animation of the children and Justice and Peace at the level of the ecclesial communities of base in the Archdiocese of Kigali.
Refugees from the genocide and the slaughters of April 1994, in July 26 of the same year Janvière and Sylvère were received as secular Franciscans by the priest of the parish of Kicukiro, which has placed them in the apostolate meant to return the widows and orphans of the genocide to unity and reconciliation by way of “productive work” through associated groups. The hierarchy of the Archdiocese of Kigali has profited from their experience and the fact that both were catechists and Franciscan when they were chosen, since 1996, as animators of the preparations for the Jubilee of 2000, and for the centenary of the evangelization of Rwanda. In 1999 the same hierarchy confirmed them as “permanent animators” for peace and reconciliation in view of the extraordinary Synod (2001) on the centuries-old ethnic conflicts that generated the genocide. Among the concrete solutions that have been implemented is the installation of Centers of Documentation in order to extirpate the roots of the genocide from the hearts of the Rwandians, dominated by an oral culture full of prejudices.
The founding of Centers, at the level of renewed communities of base, was included in the post-synod program of the pastoral of the Parishes of the deanery of the city of Kigali. Such Centers will be able to continue the new evangelization based on the sharing of the Gospel in small groups of various categories of persons: children, young people, adults, old, rich and poor ... The working method is that of “seeing, judging, acting”. The Centers will allow the Catholics self-formation in the social doctrine of the Catholic Church, enabling them to resist the influence of various sects.
Presently, Janvière and Sylvère are engaged in organizing this Center at the parish of Kicukiro, beginning from the building of a library:
Janvière and Sylvère wish that all the members of the Franciscan Family, and every person of good will, would want to support the animation of the youth and the associated movement through this work, proposed as an instrument of peace in Rwanda and the entire world.
For whoever would want to answer this appeal, we give the address of the Center:
Centre de Documentation pour the Développement Communautaire (CDDC)
Paroisse Kicukiro
Karambo III (Zone Bwiza)
B. P. 3068 Kigali - Rwanda
Email: shavugimana@yahoo.fr
A concrete gesture of support for initiatives of this sort is worth much more than the waving of a rainbow flag!