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 Dear Brothers, Peace to you!
For many of us the memories are still vivid of the celebration of the International Chapter of Mats held in Assisi from April 15-18, and of the celebrations on the local levels. They are a strong call from the charism of our origins, inviting us to take this golden opportunity which the Lord has given us through the initiative of the Order, for a more profound adherence to him, fountain of hope, serenity, and love, and making us humble yet effective witnesses to the presence of Christ in history, following the example of our Seraphic Father.
As many of you know, coming from the General Chapter of 2001, our Order began a tradition of calling a Fraternal General Assembly during the sexennium of the General’s term, in those situations in which there is no urgent necessity to convoke an Extraordinary General Chapter, and in order to give more attention to particular themes that are considered priorities for the Order. Such was the case in 2004, and according to the direction laid out by the Order in the Six Year Plan, is also planned for 2010. As was written“following upon the experience of Poland, 2004, midway through these six years, the order will organize and celebrate, a General Assembly in Latin America (Buenos Aires, Argentina) on the theme of Continuing Formation, with participation by the Ministers and representatives of the Guardians of the Order”.(Six Year Plan 3.2:14).
Therefore, with this letter, I convoke a Fraternal General Assembly for January 11-18, 2010 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, at the Pilar Center of the Episcopal Conference.
Keep in mind that a Fraternal General Assembly is not a General Chapter, and it is the intention for it to have more of a “fraternal” value, and thus does not have any juridical implications that an Ordinary or an Extraordinary General Chapter would have.
Participating in the Fraternal General Assembly will be the Minister General, the past Ministers General, the Assistant Generals, the Ministers Provincials, the General and Provincial Custodes, the General Delegates, some Delegates of Provincial Delegations, those responsible for the General Offices, 30 Guardians representing the 7 Conferences and Federations, 16 representatives of those responsible for ongoing formation, various translators and aids for the secretariat. In total, some 150 Friars.
The goals we are proposing for this Fraternal General Assembly are in keeping with the priorities of the Order that were laid out by the Ordinary General Chapter of 1998, to revive “formation” as a priority of the Order. The General Chapter of 2007 took into account the great effort put into the years 1998-2007, particularly with the work on initial formation, and indicated that ongoing formation and its role in mission, should be a specific concern of the Order in the sexennium of 2007-2013.
Therefore, the goals of this upcoming celebration are:
1. to revive and share within the Order, initiatives of ongoing formation;
2. reflect together on the challenge of the present state of ongoing formation as we see it within the Order.
3. discern the content of ongoing formation as a personal and communal process that continues conversion and the ability to conform oneself to Christ;
4. identify those useful instruments that render our ongoing formation effective (for example, the Friary Chapter, the role of the Guardian), bringing out whatever common proposals might be of help to the Jurisdictions.
In order for this great commitment and effort to be worth the time, there are elements of preparation for the Fraternal General Assembly that have been designed to be shared with the local communities, and subsequently, initiatives will be prepared, post-assembly, based on the scope of insights and benefits of those ideas that have been shared. Concerning the elements of preparation, it is appropriate to mention in particular:
(a) the reflections on the theme of ongoing formation prepared for Conventual Chapters (2009) sent to all the local communities.
(b) the meeting of the Guardians in every Jurisdiction, planned between September and November, 2009, at which, among other things, these elements would take place:
- the sharing of the reality of ongoing formation within the community;
- the presentation of the updated edition of the manual on Conventual Chapter;
- the presentation of the outline of the program for the Assembly;
(c) three months of intercessions for Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer to precede the Assembly.
The Program (attachment n.1), desires to bring together for reflection the theory on the present state of ongoing formation within the Order, and aims at indicating those initiatives that are concrete and effective, which have already been working in various Jurisdictions of the Order, maintaining a particular focus on the role of the Guardian and of the Conventual Chapter in the ongoing formation of the Friars.
It is very important that all of the Friars of the Order are able to understand and benefit from the reflections and conclusion of the assembly, and to this end, following the Assembly, we hope:
(a) that the Assembly will propose concrete and effective initiatives for ongoing formation among its “propositions”;
(b) that the themes undertaken and the conclusions of the General Assembly be a source of reflection for the meetings of Guardians, Spiritual Chapters and the Assemblies planned by Jurisdictions for 2010;
(c) that priority be given to the reflection and sharing by the local communities of the 5 reflections prepared for use by the whole Order, for the 2010 Conventual Chapters;
(d) to coordinate this initiative with the major effort being put into the revision of the Constitutions of the Order.
I wish to express appreciation, in a particular way, for all those things that are being prepared for the Fraternal General Assembly, and that these things being given over to prayer, may obtain the blessing of the Lord for the participants and for the whole Order.
May the Lord enlighten and guide us in our service and our witness. May Mary, Queen of the Seraphic Order, lead us to her Son through her intercession and her example.
“The Lord bless and keep you … and give you peace.”
Friar Marco Tasca
Minister General
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To all the Friars of the Order |
