ROME — The XXIV International Conference titled, “Epaphtha: The Deaf Person in the Life of the Church,” took place at the Vatican from Nov. 19 to 21. This theme was chosen in response to the many requests the Vatican had received to organize a symposium for the hearing impaired.
News of the conference was reported in the Dec. 1 issue of Fraternitas, the newsletter of the Order of Friars Minor, which also featured celebrations in the United States of the Order’s 800th anniversary. The issue highlighted commemorations of several communities including Holy Name Province, St. John the Baptist Province based in Ohio, St. Barbara Province, based in California, and Sacred Heart Province, based in Missouri.
In other news, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Br. Irineu Andreassa, OFM, from the Custody of the Sacred Heart in Brazil as bishop of Lages, Brazil.
Br. Babu Jose Pamplany, OFM, was elected provincial minister of the Province of St. Thomas the Apostle in India, and Br. Fidêncio Vanboemmel, OFM, was elected provincial minister of the Province of the Immaculate in Brazil.