Franciscan Center
Andover, Mass. USA
November 24, 1998

Dear Brother Ministers and Formators,

From Andover, Mass., USA the Delegates for Formation and Studies of the various Conferences of the Order and the Brothers who work in the General Secretariat for Formation and Studies send you a cordial and fraternal greeting of Peace and Good.

We also want to tell you something about this eight-day meeting of ours. From November 17-24 we, 14 Delegates for Formation and Studies from the 15 Conferences of the Order, met at the "Franciscan Center" of Immaculate Conception Province (USA), near the city of Boston. This was the 7th meeting of the International Council for Formation and Studies.

Following the schedule prepared by the General Secretariat for Formation and Studies, after consultation with the Executive Committee, we reflected on three topics: the situation of formation and studies in the Order today; the "Ratio Studiorum" (this was just a preliminary discussion); and the preparations for the International Congress of the Provincial Directors for the Pastoral Care of Vocations, planned for the last quarter of the year 2000. The place chosen for our meeting, the "Franciscan Center" is a bit outside the city, and gave us a place to work intensively and tranquilly.

After listening to each other, we must give thanks to the "Most High, Almighty, Good Lord" for the many good things the good God gives us. And we want to thank you for all you do in the field of formation and studies. We also want to encourage you to continue performing, with joy and dedication, this service that is so important to our Provinces and to the Order.

Each day we had four working sessions (on some days, five), two in the morning and two in the afternoon. Sometimes we worked in small groups, at other times in plenary sessions. When we met in plenary sessions we were helped by our translators, Brothers William Short, Alessandro Caspoli and Raşl Hernandez, to whom we express our sincere gratitude. Each day we also had special times of common prayer. In the morning we had prayer in our language groups. In the afternoon we celebrated the Eucharist together, each day in the language of the presider. On Sunday, the 22nd, we visited Boston. After enduring the cold on the city streets, and visiting some historic sites, we were welcomed warmly and fraternally by the fraternity of Saint Anthony, of Holy Name Province, to share supper with them. To this fraternity we also express our thanks. We also want to express our gratitude to Daniel McLellan, ofm, of Holy Name Province, for the preparation of the meeting of the Council, for the constant concern he showed for us and for the smooth functioning of our meeting. Special thanks also to Holy Name Province for taking on some of the expenses of this meeting. And thanks to the Immaculate Conception Province for having opened to us the doors of its home.

On the 23rd we held the elections for the Executive Committee for Formation and Studies. Those elected were Edgard Santos, Luca Pozzi, and Joxe Mari Arregui. As substitutes the following were elected: Aloizy Warot, Carlos Alberto Breis and Baltasar Obico. On the same day, after supper, we had a round-table discussion with Stephen Barnufsky and William Short, about the situation of formation in the English-Speaking Conference, particularly in regard to vocation discernment.

With lunch on the 24th we conclude this meeting of the International Council for Formation and Studies. We regret the absence of the Delegate for Central Europe, whose presence would have enriched us; and we also regret that Francois Dubois had to return to France a day before the end of the Council meeting because of illness.

Even though our days together were few, we can assure you that they provided us with a beautiful experience of international fraternity. Though we are very different, we all celebrated being Brothers.

This is what we wanted to share with you, dear Ministers and Formators of the Order. During these days we have kept you very much present in our prayer. Now, before each of us returns home, we send you fraternal greetings in our Seraphic Father Saint Francis.

The International Council
For Formation and Studies