For over ten years a formal annual meeting allows them to interrelate as brothers and sisters assisting one another with the issues of their day-to-day life in the finance offices of the various provinces. This time they were able to explore the dimension that makes them members of the greater Franciscan Family by meeting those who serve in the Houses Dependent upon the Minister General in Rome. On behalf of the Minister General and the General Definitorium, Fr. Peter Williams welcomes the participants to Rome and thanks them for their service to their home provinces and to the Order. There is also a bit of time to discuss the good work being done by the friars in Africa, a situation in which Fr. Peter is very active.

On the first day of the meeting, everybody was able to hop on the "Metro" (subway transit system) and head down to the friary that houses the Franciscans at St. John Lateran who celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation with those pilgrims who approach the Lord in this special way. This was the first in a series of meetings that allowed the friars in Rome to share their experiences of service to the Church and to the Order. There was also an opportunity to pass through one of the three Holy Doors officially visited by the treasurers who put aside their numbers for the pilgrim’s staff.

On the second day, Fr. Maurice Carmody acted as the official welcomer for the community at Collegio San Bonaventura in Grottaferrata. Everyone was able to hear about a very special life dedicated to study of Franciscan texts and a very special lived experience shared by friars of both the Franciscan and Dominican families. During the visit, the librarian, Fr. Bogdan Fajdek, introduced us to the important resources of this precious library.