Rome, September 13, 2024. Today is the penultimate day of the General Chapter. The dynamics of the work are beginning to point toward its conclusion. Since the morning, the capitulars in the Aula have been adding the final touches to the motions: corrections, adaptation, some clarification questions, discussion. All this work of refining the motions is aimed at preparing the texts before being voted on by the capitulars, which began today and will continue tomorrow.
As the plecet /non-placet resounds in the aula through electronic voting (recall the decision to celebrate the Chapter with minimal use of paper; except for the votes for the General Minister and Council, everything else was done digitally), we take the opportunity to share more information. On the heels of a presentation of some important publications for the Order, a book titled “Capuchins in India (1632-2022) – Vol. II – Capuchins in North India,” edited under the direction of Br. A. Thainis and published a few weeks ago was featured. In the words of Br. Lawrence Soosai Nathan, former President of CCMSI, who explained it to the Chapter members: We are pleased to publish the second volume – The history of Capuchins in North India – in the General Chapter. India is grateful to the Capuchins of the Provinces of Marche, Tuscany, Bologna, France, Belgium, Austria, Malta, England, Ireland, Poland, French Canada, North America and the Indian missionaries in South India.
During the nearly 400 years of Capuchin mission in India, the friars have baptized hundreds of locals, established several dioceses, promoted diocesan clergy and brought administration to autonomy, and built 13 cathedrals that remain as a clear sign of their dedication to mission and to the Church in India. Recall that the Capuchin mission to India began as early as 1632 with the landing of Brother Ephrem de Nevers from France in Madras, South India. Another “wave” of missionary action to Tibet and Nepal brought Italian Capuchins from the Marches to northern India in 1703.
In 2021 we celebrated the first centenary of the first novitiate in India. It was in view of this occasion that Fr. John Baptist Palliparambil (then General Councilor) gave the idea of documenting the 400 years of Capuchin missionary efforts in India. The work is collected in two volumes. The first volume, “The History of the Capuchins in South India,” was published on the occasion of the Indian Conference meeting with the General Council (October 2023), and the second is what you see today. Both books had the honor of being presented by General Minister Br. Roberto Genuin. A copy of the first volume was given last October to Br. Maurizio Placentino, representing the European friars, and here at the Chapter in the same manner, the second volume was presented to Br. Marek Miszczyński, and to Br. Robert Williams, representing the North American friars. The work also serves as an inspiration for every Indian Capuchin in bringing today the proclamation of the Gospel and its good news of peace to this subcontinent rich in history and the cradle of many religions and cultures.
At the end of the morning, Dr. Patrizia Morelli, in charge of the Order’s Central Library and Archives located on the Collegio’s campus, presented to the capitulars an annual refresher course for librarians and archivists, prepared for all circumscriptions of the Order.
