7. CALTANISSETTA - SICILIA – FIRST REGIONAL CHAPTER OF MATS Fr. Martin Bitter, OFMConv. Sunday June 25th, in a very hot but festive day, Secular Franciscans from Sicilia (Italy) met in Caltanissetta, at the communal Stadium to celebrate the First Regional Chapter of Mats. Around 1500 people participated, and also Spiritual Assistants from local and regional levels of the First Order (OFM, OFMConv, OFMCap) and TOR. We recall that a year ago, members of the Sicilian SFO celebrated the First Unified Regional Chapter. The Program included a welcoming Liturgy. Welcoming all participants were Pietro Vivona, SFO, Regional Minister; Salvador Messana, the Caltanissetta Mayor; Fr. Salvino Pulizzotto, OFMConv President in charge of the Regional Assistants Conference; one Poor Clare Sister in the name of the Poor Clare sisters from Sicilia; and, Rosa Galimberti, SFO Italy National Minister. Benedetto Lino, International SFO Councilor presented the theme titled, "Join together: so that they might have my joy in their hearts in all its fullness" (Jn 17:13), which was enriched from an ecclesiastical point of view by the intervention of Rosa Galimberti. After sharing a picnic, the festival continued with a Franciscan-poetic moment under the care of Giorgio Villa, actor and movie director. There was also a Concert with "Gospel" music by the group "The Good News Voices". The Eucharist was concelebrated by the OFM, OFMCap and OFMConv. Provincial Ministers, presided by Fr. Martín Pablo Bitzer, OFMConv, General Assistant. With this wonderful day the Sicilian SFO has given a strong testimony to other Italian regions which have not yet celebrated their unified Chapter, and praised the Lord for the other 10 Regions may enjoy the grace of unity as well.
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