A new Franciscan Province is born

Communication Office

In the Chapter held from the 18th to the 24th of Novemeber 2001 in Maria Weißenstein (Bolzano), the Province of St. Leopold (Innsbruck) and the Province of St. Francis (Bolzano) were amalgamated giving rise to the Province of Blessed Engelbert Kolland.

On the 23rd of November, Br. Giacomo Bini, the Minister General, erected the new Province of Blessed Engelbert Kolland with its seat in Innsbruck, Austria.

The Minister General also proclaimed the "Government" of the new Entity, elected by the Definitory General on the 7th of September 2001, and which will remain in charge for a three-year period.

Minister Provincial:
  Br. Rupert Schwarzl
Vicar Provincial:
  Br. Willibald Hopfgartner
Provincial Definitors:
  Br. Alexander Puchberger
  Br. Alfons Penz
  Br. Georg Reider
  Br. Guido M. Demetz

The new Province is composed of 130 Friars, of whom 12 Friars are in formation.

The Patron is Blessed Engelbert Kolland, who was born in Ramsau in 1827. Having met some young Franciscan novices on the street one day, he was struck by their modesty, by their thoughtful behaviour, and after some months he entered the Order. He was ordained in Bolzano in 1851. In 1855 he went to the Holy Land as a missioner, to Damascus. Martyred in 1860, at the age of 33, he was beatified by Pius XI on the 10th of October 1926.

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