Rome, September 14, 2024. Chapter Secretary Br. Damian Philip Pereira read the Closing Act of the 86th General Chapter of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin today in the presence of Chapter President Br. Roberto Genuin and all the capitulars. He thus officially ended the work of the Chapter. In the evening, at the end of the Eucharistic celebration, General Minister Br. Roberto Genuin declared the Chapter concluded.
Before reaching this proclamation, the morning was still concerned with voting on the motions that were prepared over the past few days, which summarize the Chapter’s discussions on the main issues on the agenda. They will function as a set of guidelines for the General Council in the animation of the Order over the next six years. At the end of the voting, each conference and then also the individual Chapter members expressed a word of summary of what they experienced, and their expectations for the near future. From the proposals, we can see emphasized: “the strengthening of fraternal collaboration between circumscriptions, commitment to formation, preparation for the fifth centenary of the Capuchin reform, commitment to the protection of minors, ways to prepare the next chapter,” etc. There were several suggestions for how to conduct the Chapter itself in the future, giving more space to the intercultural aspect (e.g., liturgies put together by the different conference groups, interlingual discussions, etc.) and commitment to the transition from a paper free (appreciated) chapter to a plastic free one.
A fine mattinata è stato formulato e approvato un messaggio indirizzato a tutto l’Ordine, che a breve troverete per esteso. Prima di sciogliere l’assemblea c’è stato il lungo e sentito ringraziamento indirizzato a tutti coloro che hanno collaborato alla preparazione del Capitolo (anche lontani da Roma, che nel silenzio hanno lavorato alacremente per predisporre i testi), e quanti ne hanno curato lo svolgimento.
The last collegial act for the capitulars was the Mass, celebrated by the General Minister in Italian. It was the perfect way of giving thanks to the Lord for what we’ve experienced over these three weeks in terms of fraternity, sharing and deciding for the future. We recognized once again the beauty of the vocation we have received against the background of such a variety of cultural and linguistic richness. The supper that followed was “on the move,” that is, not served at tables with seats, but at a buffet… almost an anticipation of setting out again, each one to his own land, his own friary, his own fraternity… bringing what he experienced here in Rome: the emotions, the faces, and a greater knowledge of the Order. For the following day, Sunday, September 15, the opportunity was offered to make a pilgrimage to San Giovanni Rotondo: about 40 brothers took this opportunity to visit the places of St. Pio of Pietrelcina.
“The Lord gave me brothers…to go out into the world“; the capitulars accomplished their work inspired by this slogan. In Rome they touched on the truth of its first part; now, as they set out, they must put the second part into action… a happy journey to all! And thanks to those who have been reading along and following the work of the Chapter!
