ROME — The first Fraternitas of the new year includes news about a chapter of mats in Italy, peace prayers in the Holy Lady, formation courses and a new Franciscan bishop.
The newsletter of the General Curia reported that presidents of the Order of Friars Minor conferences met in Sacrofano, Italy. More than 100 friars from nine international and multicultural fraternities participated in the annual meeting, held Nov. 26 through 28. The goal of the meeting was for friars to get to know one another, and to take a look at the journey the Order has made thus far.
Prayer For Peace in the Holy Land
In other news, Fraternitas reported that the third International Day of Intercession for Peace in the Holy Land, sponsored by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, will be celebrated from Jan. 29 and 30.
According to the article, the International Day of Intercession for Peace in the Holy Land is, “an initiative born from the will to commit oneself in a serious way for the cause of peace through intense days of prayer.”
Formation Course Offered
The Commission of Service for Dialogue, in collaboration with the General Secretary for Evangelization, will offer an ongoing formation course in Istanbul, Turkey, Oct. 17 to 31.
The course, offered in both Italian and Spanish, will be on formation to dialogue in the Franciscan Charism, Ecumenical, Islamic-Christian, and Judeo-Christian Dialogue.
The course will also include a three-day visit to the places of the “Churches of the Apocalypse.” It will cost roughly $650.
New Franciscan Bishop
Br. Joseph Bonello, OFM, from the Franciscan Province of St. Paul the Apostle in Malta, was appointed bishop of Juticalpa, Honduras.
Before his appointment, he served as pastor of St. Anne Church in Libertad, Honduras, and vicar general of the Diocese of Comayagua, Honduras.
Other News
In other news, the first JPIC course will take place at the Antonianum from May 3 to 14. The course will be conducted in Italian, English, and Spanish.
Br. Henk van Mastrigt, OFM, was recently featured in National Geographic for his work with butterflies and moths. His laboratory contains the most complete collection of lepidpterons (moths and butterflies) in the world.
The General Minister’s schedule includes a meeting with newly-elected provincial ministers at the General Curia from Jan. 17 to 28.
— Compiled by Kevin McGarr