DAILY BRIEFING
ENGLISH SPEAKING CONFERENCE | ORDER OF FRIARS MINOR
June 3, 2015

 

St Kevin and the Blackbird (1996)


 
And then there was St Kevin and the blackbird.

The saint is kneeling, arms stretched out, inside
His cell, but the cell is narrow, so

 

One turned-up palm is out the window, stiff
As a crossbeam, when a blackbird lands
And lays in it and settles down to nest.

 

Kevin feels the warm eggs, the small breast, the tucked
Neat head and claws and, finding himself linked
Into the network of eternal life,

 

Is moved to pity: now he must hold his hand
Like a branch out in the sun and rain for weeks
Until the young are hatched and fledged and flown.

 

Seamus Heaney

  

Happy Feast of St. Kevin to our brothers Caoimhin O'Laoide & Kevin Mullen!


Building unity in the Franciscan family
Vicar General outlines inter-family plan for 2015-2018

DOMUS PACIS, ASSISI - Vicar General Julio Bunader, OFM, spoke to the Chapter about a proposal that has been made between the General Ministers of the OFM, Conventual, Capuchin and TOR orders for efforts toward greater unity among the groups over the next several years.

He said, "We can work together in our common vocation and mission that we all share. A vocation and mission that was born here in Assisi." 

Vicar General Julio Bunader, OFM explaining the proposal to the friars.

The program will take place from 2015-2018 and each year will have a focus.  This year, 2015, is a year of preparation. The main focus of 2016 will be a time to commemorate the 8th centenary of the Pardon of Assisi. "This will be a penitential journey," Br. Julio said, "Asking for pardon, expressing mercy. A new Pentecost."

In 2017, there will be a commemoration of the Papal Bull Ite Vos, the 1517 bull that separated the members of the Franciscan family into OFM Regular Observance and Conventual. "But, we will try and read this in a new way. We hope to have a visit of Pope Francis to Assisi to renew our charism as one entity of the Church."

In 2018, the focus would be on deepening bonds already built and potentially exploring some new common projects among the entities.

"It might be appropriate to talk about our desire to strengthen the bonds of our fraternal communion with our Capuchin, Conventual, and TOR brothers in the final document. Let's make it clear to the rest of the family that we are ready to walk together," said General Minister Michael A. Perry, OFM, to the group. 

(r. to l.) Provincial Ministers John Hardin, OFM (SB), Marc LeGoanvec, OFM (SJ), Dennis Vavrek, OFM (CTK), Custos Yusuf Bagh, OFM (Pakistan), and Vicar Provincial Michael Jennrich, OFM (SH) 

Bringing Joy and Mercy to the Peripheries
First Draft of the Final Document of the Chapter

DOMUS PACIS, ASSISI - Chapter delegates had their first discussion of the initial draft of what could become the General Chapter's final document today. The document was drafted by a team of three friars: Friars  Dominic Monti, OFM (HNP), Cesare Vaiani, OFM and Frederic Manns, OFM.

 Friars Cesare Vaiani, OFM, Dominic Monti, OFM (HNP), and Frederic Manns, OFM presenting the document to the Chapter

The group has spent the time of the General Chapter listening to the work of the delegates to get a sense of what the Chapter friars are trying to say to the friars throughout the world.   

Friar Dominic Monti, OFM (HNP) gave the initial presentation of the document to the Chapter. He said, "Over the course of these weeks, we did what you did. We went to sessions, we went to small groups, we listened. T his document is for our brothers who are not here, to give a sense of what the mood is here."

Provincial Minister Paul Smith, OFM (Holy Spirit, Australia) at the head of this table of delegates.

The working title of the document is "Bringing Joy and Mercy to the Peripheries." The delegates had copies of the first draft in the three official languages of the Order since last night to get an initial impression. The document was read aloud to the group today. The delegates then had an opportunity to offer comments, ask question and make suggestions.

The writing team organized the document around four images from Scripture:
  1. The story of Jesus calming the storm. Matthew 8.23-27
  2. The experience of the Babylonian Exile. 
  3. Jesus curing the blind Bartimeus. Mark 10.46-52
  4. Abraham and Sarah. Genesis 18
Some of the suggestions from the delegates to the writing team:
  1. To include more references from the General Minister's report
  2. To make a clearer connection to the Instrumentum Laboris
  3. To make reference to the messages shared by Chapter speakers
  4. To speak more about the signs of joy and hope
The writing team will take what they heard under consideration now as they work on the next draft.

Provincial Minister Dennis Vavrek, OFM (CTK) making a presentation to delegates about the costs of the Chapter. Dennis was one of two delegates elected to the Financial Commission for the Chapter today. The other was Provincial Minister Mario Vaccari, OFM (Liguria). 

A few thoughtful gifts for the road
One artful, one practical

DOMUS PACIS, ASSISI - Among the gifts for the Chapter delegates when they depart from Assisi in just a few days are some beautiful and clever items.

The first is a beautiful tapestry that has been created exclusively for the Chapter. It depicts the same image of the Blessed Mother receiving the message from the Angel Gabriel that can be seen above the altar inside of the Chapel of the Portiuncula.

This beautiful tapestry is an exclusive reproduction of the image of the Annunciation above the altar in the Portiuncula Chapel.

The second is more practical. It is a solar powered backpack. The solar panels are capable of recharging mobile devices on the go.

Vice Secretary of the Chapter Sergiuz Baldyga, OFM, shows the backpack and its chargers.



Assumption BVM Province
VIDEO

Each Province or Entity was asked to prepare a video so that General Chapter members could learn a bit more about the friars around the world. This is the video from the Assumption BVM Province in Wisconsin.