fr VOLUME L • EDITION 240 JANUARY 2017 Fraternitas OFM INTERNATIONAL NEWSLETTER OFM INTERNATIONAL NEWSLETTER MESSAGE OF THE MINISTER GENERAL FOR THE WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY (October 5th, 2016: Pope Francis and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby. REUTERS / Tony Gentile.) My dear brothers of the Order of Friars Minor, news of just such love, it is a most fitting theme for this brothers, sisters and friends of the Franciscan Family, year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. […] May the Lord give you all His peace! As Pope Francis and Archbishop Justin Welby recently stated in their Common Declaration marking The love of Christ urges us on; it compels us to share the fiftieth anniversary of official dialogue between with all members of the human family what we have our two ecclesial communions, “Jesus gave his life in seen and heard, namely that in Jesus Christ, God’s Word love, and rising from the dead overcame even death of love became flesh so that we may be reconciled itself. Christians who have come to this faith, have to one another as His children and to Him as our encountered Jesus and the victory of his love in their Heavenly Father (cf. 1 John 1:3). This is our vocation – own lives, and are impelled to share the joy of this Good as Franciscans, yes. This is, after all, the Good News we News with others.” profess as our Rule and Life. More fundamentally, this is The complete text may be found on: our vocation as Christians, and in world crying out for http://www.ofm.org/ofm/?p=12101 CHILDREN PRAYING FOR PEACE: A LETTER FROM THE MINISTER GENERAL AND THE CUSTOS OF THE HOLY LAND at their Children’s Mass (or at the mass attended by most children). Opportunities for this prayer intention could also include Youth Ministry programs, or working with local schools — which would bring an ecumenical and interreligious dimension. If the prayer service is done outside of Mass, it can always be adapted, while retaining the symbolism Dear Brothers and Sisters, of the lighting of the candles, along with the simple May the Lord give you peace! prayer and songs for peace. Please remember to always For a long time now, we Friars Minor have been explain to the children that this prayer is being done in very concerned about the situation being experienced communion with children worldwide who are praying by our brothers in Syria, by Christians and the entire for world peace, and specifically for peace in Aleppo population. Recently, we called on the international and Syria. community to intensify its efforts to stop the war and We ask all those who take part to visit our Facebook the suffering of the civilian population, and to make page: every effort to achieve peace. Children-in-prayer-for-peace. We are asking all Franciscan fraternities, on the first God bless all our efforts for peace, and may the Lord Sunday of every month, to have special prayers for peace listen to the cries and the prayers of His little ones. OTHER NEWS Morocco – Friars attend COP22 Poland – Guardians’ Meeting On November 28th, an academic ceremony to honor Emeritus Professor Br. Francisco Víctor Sánchez Gil took place at the Theological Institute of Murcia. During his long career, Br. Victor was Director of three Franciscan journals: Carthaginensia, Archivo Ibero-americano, and Archivum Franciscanum Historicum. From November 14th-17th a COP22 (Conference of the group of over ninety Guardians Friars from the Antonianum hold Parties), organized by UNFCCC gathered at the shrine of Kalwaria a retreat at the General Curia (United Nations Framework Zebrzydowska, Poland, for the Convention on Climate Change), Annual Week of Workshops. took place in Marrakesh, Morocco The gathering, which addressed on 8-18 November 2016. contemporary issues related to the The friars attended the Sacrament of Reconciliation, was meetings in their habits in led by the well-known Capuchin remembrance of the Franciscan School for Confessors. The event Martyrs in Marrakech. This led to was a fitting conclusion to the many occasions of dialogue with Jubilee Year of Mercy. To assist community life, the the locals and participants of the fraternity at the Antonianum is Conference. On 8 November, an Rome - Special Commission for divided into smaller groups who interfaith prayer service for climate Dialogue with Islam arrange activities for the friars justice was held in the Franciscan involved. One of these groups is the ‘La Verna fraternity’, composed of Church in Marrakech. 12 friars in studies, from 7 different countries. On December 3rd, 2016, Tullamore, Ireland – Br. Federico Rodriguez Schmädke Plowing Championships led them in a retreat which focused on the theological concept of poverty, as outlined in Chapter 6 of the Approved Rule. After Mass FRATERNITAS WWW.OFM.ORG - FRATERNITAS The Order’s Special Commission in the Curia oratory, they had lunch for Dialogue with Islam gathered with the friars of the General Curia. at the General Curia from 21-25 November, 2016. The Commission South Sudan – the Friars ask for met to decide on its six-year prayers for peace plan of activities and projects, The Irish National Ploughing chief among which will be the Championships has been held preparation of diverse, multilingual annually since 1931. It is Europe’s materials to assist the Order and its largest Outdoor Exhibition and ecumenical and interfaith friends Agricultural Trade Show — with in commemorating the eighth about 300,000 attendees and over centenary of the meeting between 1,500 exhibitors. St. Francis and Sultan Malik al-Kamil Our brothers in South Sudan ask For several years, the Irish friars in 1219. for special prayers for peace. They write: “the war is continuous and have had a very popular stand there, Murcia – Academic Honors there is never a day in which we do where they give a warm welcome not hear the noise of weapons in the to people who want to chat, write night, and even during the day…..” prayer requests or talk about their Brothers of our beloved Order, let faith. The Catholic Church in Ireland us join our voices to those of our has been in decline in the last 25 brothers and sisters living in this years, but this event shows that extremely complex and desperate situation, where many are giving there is still a hunger for the faith, their lives in order to make Christ and a great fondness for the friars! present. 2 UPCOMING EVENTS Theatrical Performance for the Feast Day of the Administrator of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, PUA and of the Grand Chancellor Pierbattista Pizzaballa, wrote — “It is not easy to talk The Feast Day of the PUA about Francis to those who do not know him; it is even (Pontifical University, more difficult to talk about him to those who assume Antonianum) and of the that they know him. In my judgement, Riccardo Grand Chancellor (the Tordoni has managed to do both.” OFM Minister General) “San Bernardino” – Scripture Course will be held on January A course on the 16th, 2017. “Letter to the A full program has Hebrews” will been drawn up to mark be held at the the event. Prof. Cavalli Verona Theological will chair the day and Institute from will introduce various January 30th speakers — Profs. Burigana and Sgroi of the PUA; the to February 1st, Lutheran Archbishop of Uppsala, Antje Jackelén; and 2017. Fr. Cesare the PUA Rector, Prof. Mary Melone, who will welcome Marcheselli, lecturer in Sacred Scripture at the the participants. Pontifical Theological Faculty of Southern Italy will The celebrations will conclude with an afternoon present the course. WWW.OFM.ORG - FRATERNITAS performance of “Francis, dust of God”, by Riccardo For further information, please contact Tordoni. Br. Lorenzo Raniero: +39 349 3991195 In speaking of this performance, the Apostolic or: [email protected] The Poor Clare Monastery of San all; instead, let them live as pilgrims donation, large or small, these are Severino Marche – Earthquake and strangers in this world who the bank details: damage serve the Lord in poverty and Monastero S. Chiara – Camerino humility” IBAN: IT77 H030 6968 83000 000 Nonetheless, we can help them 000 1032 with a bank transfer to: Name of Bank: Banca Intesa, “Monastero Santa Chiara” IBAN Camerino branch. IT74 C076 0113 4000 0001 1235 629 Or else: CCP 17194606, or else: Monastero S. Chiara-Camerino. CCP 11235629, “Monastero Santa Chiara”, Via Gorgonero, 20 - Special Statutes for Missions and The Poor Clares of San Sererino 62027 SAN SEVERINO MARCHE Evangelization write that they are all well and The General Secretary for very grateful for so much support Camerino Poor Clare Monastery and friendship. Key areas of their Collapses monastery are inaccessible, such as their church, refectory, kitchen and sleeping areas. Thank God they have other spaces that they can use, such as the infirmary, the retreat house (where they sleep), the workshops (where they work and Missions and Evangelization, Br. eat), the choir (for Mass) and the Luis Gallardo, draws our attention sacristy (for prayer and community The earthquakes of October to the availability of the Statutes gatherings.) 26th and 30th, 2016, meant that for Missions and Evangelization on They ask for nothing but our the Poor Clares in Camerino were the OFM website: “We put them at prayers, with the intention that “exiled”, because of the collapse your disposal to serve as guidelines the difficult circumstances of the of their monastery. They took for the work you carry out as the earthquake will enable them to get refuge in the San Severino Marche friars responsible for stimulating to the heart of the Gospel Life that monastery, itself badly damaged.