"One of the most urgent challenges of today, as we move towards the third millenium, especially in the industrialized world, is certainly the break-up, the fragmentation of human life. It is an internal fragmentation experienced by every man and woman as they face the thousands of desires and options presented to them daily. At the root of this is a rampant "consumerism," fed by irresponsible advertising, all in the service of a global economy. To seek to reconstruct one's internal unity, a measure of calm within which to receive and give space to the Word of God, is not easy. Nonetheless, whoever lacks this internal harmony will find it very difficult to be a builder of communion and a messenger of the Good News.

The contemplative life is a silent but eloquent witness to this harmonious and serene unity which everyone longs for so much; it is "the better part" chosen by Mary. We are invited to a formation, a mature discernment among many possibilities, not all negative, which must be ordered and integrated. It will help if we understand what is essential and what is secondary; what is urgent today, and what can wait until tomorrow, without losing ourselves in an activism ever more unsettling.

May I suggest some possible ways of deepening this approach:

1. Reconsider theological formation: The real theologian is the one who not only knows how to speak about God but especially knows how to speak to God. The person who really knows God necessarily gets to know communion because he who is familiar with welcoming God in his personal life will create the space necessary for welcoming others.

2. Value the opportunity of creating "centers of internal reconstruction" in every diocese, in which personal hurt can be healed; they would be centers of evaluation and growth in the Spirit, for priests, religious, laypeople.

3. Help form well-prepared "companions": people who are themselves on the path towards contemplative simplicity; men and women willing to give themselves full-time to serve others in this way. This is one of those ministries which should be given special attention in our modern times: the ministry of listening.

The Ministers General of the Franciscan Family have written a third Jubilee 2000 letter, for the year consecrated to the Father: "We want to meditate with you, brothers and sisters, lay and religious members of the Franciscan Family, on the mystery of the Father, touching upon the experience and testimony of Francis."

The letter is divided into three parts:

1. theological and spiritual aspects (who is the Father? and how Francis discovered the fatherhood of God and thus entered into the experience of Jesus).

2. the Father in Christian life today (the Father at the heart of the life of faith, fatherhood, sonship and communion).

3. suggestions for personal and common reflection.

In the reflections the Ministers emphasize fraternity, as having its roots in the mystery of the one God. "Because we have just one Father, Jesus Christ is our first brother. Every human being ­ man-woman, small-big, poor-rich, evil-good, sick-healthy, marginalized-institutionalized - is our brother/sister and will always be welcomed kindly; and other living beings ­ animals, vegetables, even the cosmic realities ­ all form part of this mysterious fraternity, since these too have no other origin than the heart of the Father."

Agapé, the Franciscan publishing house in Nova Sad, Yugoslavia , and Szeged, of Hungary, have published a new book: A magyar misszió végnapjai Kínában (The last days of the Hungarian Mission in China), by fr. Thun Albin.

The Hungarian Province of St. John Capistran had a mission in China, in the Prefecture of Paoking. Fr. Albino Thun was the last Hungarian Franciscan expelled from China. Immediately after his expulsion, fr. Albino wrote up a diary in Hong Kong. Some time later he was transferred to the United States, where he died a member of the Custody of St. John Capistran.

Fr. Albino's diary (168 pages), published with the help of Franziskaner für Mittel-und Osteuropa di Vienna, has great historical, spiritual and political importance. It carries the freshness of first impressions of meeting with the communism of Mao. The text is written in Hungarian.

• 1-3 March: fraternal visit to the Province of Albania
  
• 15-27 March: "tempo forte" (plenary session) of the General Definitorium, Rome.
  
• 29 March: meeting of the Conference of the Franciscan Family, Rome.

• Fr. José R.Carballo, Secretary General for Formation and Studies, visited the Houses of Formation of the Sacred Heart Province, USA (November 25-28) and the Houses of Formation of the Central American Province (November 29-31). He also gave a course of ongoing formation to the Guardians and Formators of the Custody of the Holy Land (December 10-17), and preached a retreat to the friars of Venezuela: ofm, ofmcap. and ofmconv. (January 3-8, 1999).
• The International Council for Formation and Studies, which is convened every two years, met at the "Franciscan Center," Andover, Mass., USA, during November 17-24, 1998. The three members of the General Secretariate attended, together with fourteen delegates from the Conferences. The following themes were discussed: the situation regarding formation and studies in the Order; the "ratio studiorum"; an international congress for the provincial promoters of vocations.
• The final number in 1998 of the review Antonianum was dedicated to fr. Roberto Zavalloni, who was a Professor at the Antonianum for many years, and at the Roman University La Sapienza. Matilde Parente, pedagogue, and for more than ten years a colleague and collaborator with fr. Zavalloni at La Sapienza, compiled a bio-bibliography in an article entitled "Educazione e Promozione umana: ricerca e pensiero di Roberto Zavalloni." (Education and Human Development: the research and thought of Roberto Zavalloni) (48pp.)
• Fr. Gino Concetti has published "Diritti degli omosessuali" (The Rights of Homosexuals) ­ Editrice Piemme, Casale Monteferrato, 1997, pp.124. It is a study of homosexuality, looked at from the juridical and ethical viewpoints, with an examination of the documents of the Church magisterium, of the works of theologians, and of the Resolution of the European Parliament, February 8, 1994.
• Fr. Austen Crapp, Administrator of the Diocese of Aitape, Papua New Guinea, stated, during the General Congregation of the Synod for Oceania, that the tidal wave of July 17, 1998, had left 2,253 dead and had destroyed four villages. "But," said fr. Crapp, "this tragedy has united the Churches in a single ecumenical exercise of charity."
• The Antonianum of Bologna has undertaken to reconstruct the primary school (nursery-elementary) of the village of Sissano, Papua New Guinea, one of the four villages destroyed by the tidal wave. The school will be built near the Franciscan Orthopaedic Center, which uses long-term re-educative physiotherapy to treat children cured of leprosy but still suffering from its mutilations.
• Fr. José Victor Aguilar, Minister Provincial in Central America, reports how his Province has organised itself to help the victims of Hurricane Mitch, which killed 7,000 and left 10,000 homeless. "We are grateful to all the friars of the different provinces of the Order who have shown solidarity and given us help."
• Twenty-five OFM Guardians, twelve Capuchins, and twelve Conventuals, all from Lazio, Italy, met with their Provincials at the Convent of S.Antonio al Monte (Rieti). After an uplifting liturgy of welcome, they discussed the theme: "Our fraternities and the older friars."
• The Province of St.Anthony in Bavaria (Germany) is preparing a meeting of ex-friars of the Province, to be held on June 12, 1999.
• At the end of the summer semester of 1998, fr. Raynald Wagner, of the Province of St.Anthony in Bavaria (Germany), finished his long service as a teacher in the Theological Faculty of the University of Salzburg. In recognition of his services, Archbishop Georg Eder conferred upon him the title of Archepiscopal Counsellor of the Consistory.
• Mons. Ciriaco Benavente Mateos, Bishop of Coria-Caceres (Spain) has written a pastoral letter to commemorate the fifth centenary of the birth of St. Peter of Alcantara.
• In 1998 the "Lectura Dantis Metelliana" celebrated the twenty-fifth anniversary of its foundation. The Association was founded and animated by fr. Attilio Mellone. Its purpose is the study of Dante and many of its members enjoy international fame. Further information may be obtained from: P. Mellone, Piazza S.Francesco, 2 - Cava dei Tirreni (SA), Italia.
• Missionszentrale del Franziskaner (Bonn) were the promoters of a course on the Franciscan Charism last year from October 12-22. It was held in English at the Center of Spirituality of the Franciscan Sisters in Nairobi, Kenya. Fifteen friars, twenty-eight Sisters and some members of the SFO participated. They came from twelve different African countries.
• "The refounding of the St.Charles Borromeo Province of the Friars Minor of Lombardy. Historical research for the Centenary 1898-1998" is the title of a book written in Italian by fr. Filiberto Sabbadin. The book presents the history of the reconstitution of the Province, together with a brief profile of the friars from 1898 to 1996.

Franciscans International organized a meeting in San José, Costa Rica, to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the Declaration on Human Rights. The national presidents for Justice and Peace in Central America attended. Mr. Robert Müller, under-secretary in the UNO for three terms, now retired, gave the principal talk and stayed with the meeting through December 8-10. Mr. Müller recalled that he, too, had been pessimistic at the beginning regarding the UNO. The diplomats thought the organisation would not survive more than five years. But today one must acknowledge the giant achievements: there has not been a third world war; from 67 active wars in 1948, the number has come down to only 27 today, and of these only three are international. Müller pointed out that these three international conflicts have religious roots, and for this reason he has proposed a religious UNO. In this regard, some initiatives have already been taken, including the writing of Statutes. For Müller, the end of colonialism and of apartheid, and the realization of a European Union, are other miracles of the UNO. "But," he emphasized, "the UNO today has other problems which it has not been equipped to address: violence, the ever-increasing abyss between the rich and the poor; and consumerism. For this reason, a restructuring of the UNO is indicated. At this point, let us look at the Franciscans. Their spirituality can save the future of humanity, because it offers the antidote to the three evils of the world. It has the spirit of peace, of social equality - with its preferential option for the poor - and frugality of life - as against consumerism. The stance of the Franciscans is essential for the future." The franciscan meeting took place at the University for Peace and had as its motto: "Franciscans and the culture of peace." On December 10 the participants gathered in the Peace Park, for the unveiling of a statue of St.Francis. The sculpture is the work of Anneta Duveen, SFO, and is a gift of Franciscans International.

In 1980 the Province of Lyons, France, founded a fraternity at Chemin Grenier on the island of Mauritius. On June 9, 1998, the General Curia placed Mauritius under the jurisdiction of the Vice-Province of St.Francis in Africa and Madagascar. The two Provincials involved, fr. Mathieu Smolders (Three Companions, Eastern France and Belgium) and fr. Jacques St.Yves (St.Francis) met with the five friars of this fraternity, at Chemin Grenier, from September 28 to October 1, 1998. The fraternity enters the "Africa Project" with two prior responsibilities: a parish and a retreat center. As well as living as an international fraternity ­ one Mauritian, one Briton, one Italian, one Frenchman and one from Madagascar ­ they will have the primary objective of implanting the Order on the island, giving special attention to the formation of the local candidates. Notwithstanding the history of European colonialism (Dutch, French, English), two thirds of the population are of Indian origin. These are the descendants of immigrant workers, brought in for manual work in the sugar-cane plantations. Sugar-cane is still the principal product of the island, which has 1,835 square kilometers and 1,100,000 inhabitants.

On November 16-18, 1998, at the Franciscan house of "Tabor" in Samobor (Croatia), the provincial ministers of the OFM Southslav Conference, together with the interprovincial council for evangelization and the interprovincial secretariat for missionary evangelization, discussed the question of the presence and activity of friars in parishes. On the basis of responses to a questionnaire, the participants agreed on certain indispensable criteria for an adequate reflection on the subject:

1. The point of departure must be the General Constitutions, art. 84, which states expressly that pastoral service in parishes is part of the evangelizing mission of the friars.

2. We must remember that the Church has entrusted to the Provinces the pastoral care of certain parishes.

3. The many positive elements should be identified whereby pastoral activity in parishes has enriched the franciscan charism and has given scope to the mission of the friars.

4. Similarly, it is important to identify the difficulties which pastoral activity in parishes has created for the authenticity of the franciscan vocation.

5. Taking the concrete situation into account and the orientations of the Order and of the Church, as expressed clearly in their respective documents, it is important to formulate criteria for deciding on priorities in our franciscan work of evangelization.

In order to encourage the friars to reflect on this issue responsibly, the participants also prepared a Letter-Message, in which they underline the fundamental aspects of our franciscan vocation and franciscan message. The letter and report of Fr. Nikola Vukoja, entitled "The presence and activity of the friars in parishes: the actual situation and the challenges," will be discussed in all the local house chapters.

The remains of fr. Victorin Delbrouck, martyred on December 11, 1898, when only twenty-eight years of age, lie today in the great and magnificent Franciscan house of Saint-Trond, just 40 kilometers north-west of Liege, in Belgium. Shortly after his martyrdom, which happened at Sek'eu-tsjan, in the province of Hupei, his remains were brought back to his homeland. Nine Belgium friars suffered death, the last one in 1929. Fr.Victorin was born in 1870, the year the first friars from Belgium arrived in China. He began his own missionary activity in 1897. The celebration of the centenary of his death began at Saint-Trond on October 11, with the singing of the Transitus by a choir of friars, in three voices. This was followed by a meditation on the significance of martyrdom. The packed church then heard some extracts from the last letters of fr. Victorin, who was expecting death every day. On November 29 a solemn Eucharist was celebrated at St.Trond, and, on December 13, a similar Eucharist at Boirs, the village of his birth.

Mons. Manuel Valarezo Luzuriaga, ofm, Prefect Apostolic of Galapagos (Ecuador), who participated in the Oceania Synod, has suggested to the Holy Father that just as he taught the defence of human life, he might also teach respect for every form of life on earth. The Bishop has asked for a papal document which might provide a doctrinal foundation for love and respect for the life that exists on this earth. Mons. Valarezo, when speaking during the Synod, pointed out that it is our century that has destroyed the riches of nature and the forests, that has polluted the water and the atmosphere. He praised all those who are active in defence of ecology, like the offices for justice, peace and the care of creation within the Order. But he underlined that it is time for the universal Church, in the midst of a naturalist and secularized society, to assume the defence of creation, which is the mirror of the goodness and beauty of the Creator.

The Province of St. James of the Marches, in Picenum (Italy) will celebrate its provincial chapter 1999 in two phases: the elective part, in April; the planning part, in June. At this important moment of evaluation and planning, the Province wants to concentrate on a systematic study of "The Priorities of this Sexennium." After a preliminary examination at the Spiritual Chapter (August 25-27, 1998), a deeper understanding will be sought in meetings of the friars according to zones, so as to arrive at practical choices during the Chapter. Five meetings will be held in each of the four zones, one meeting for each priority. These meetings will be structured as follows: in the first part the theme of the priority will be presented; in the second part concrete proposals for the Chapter will be discussed. These will be collected by the animator of the zone, synthesized and sent to the Provincial Curia, as a contribution towards Chapter planning for the next six years.

Responding to the request of the General Chapter, 1997, the Minister General, fr. Giacomo Bini, visited Mostar on December 12-14, accompanied by the Vicar General, fr. Stephen Ottenbreit, and Mons.Marcello Zago, the Secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. During those days they met with many people, at various levels. The first meeting was with the Provincial Definitorium. Then the Minister and Vicar met with a large number of the friars of the Province. During the meeting with the friars, Mons. Zago reported that he had met with the clergy of the diocese earlier that day, the 13th. The Vicar General had also met with the friars who were pastors in the parishes due to be given to the Bishop. Later there was a meeting in the Diocesan Curia of Mostar, attended by Mons. Ratko Peric, the local Bishop, fr. Giacomo Bini, Mons. Marcello Zago, fr. Stephen Ottenbreit, fr. Thomislav Pervan, the provincial minister, fr. Marinko Leko, the provincial vicar and the representative of the Nunciature.

At a final meeting, attended by the Bishop, the Minister General, the Secretary of the Congregation, the representative of the Nunciature and the OFM Pastors, a final document was drawn up and signed, which picked up the sense of the previous meetings and which reaffirmed the commitment to the transfer of the parishes indicated in the Decree of the Holy See. Previously there had been a meeting, on November 10, at the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, at the end of which an "Open Letter" had been written, addressed to the priests, men and women religious and the laity of the Diocese of Mostar-Duvno, signed by the Minister General and the Local Bishop.

This letter expressed the hope, among other things, that there wouldbe an "ever more necessary collaboration, in a spirit of communion, under the guidance of the local Bishop, sharing pastoral responsibilities and favouring the different charisms."

The Italian Sannito-Irpina Province, dedicated to Our Lady of the Graces, together with the Archdiocese and Comune of Benevento, will celebrate an extraordinary Marian Year, from February 2, 1999, to July 2, 2000, in preparation for the Jubilee Year of 2000, and in honour of the third centenary of the dedication of the city to Our Lady of the Graces (March 13, 1700). The Apostolic Penitentiary has granted a Plenary Indulgence, on the usual conditions, to be gained in the Basilica dedicated to Our Lady in Benevento, which the friars have tended for more than 500 years, and in those places to which the Sacred Image will be brought in pilgrimage.

"Walking with St.Francis" is a form of evangelization used by the Franciscan Family in Togo, Burkina, Benin and the Ivory Coast.

Open to young Catholics, the walk, called "the Gospel Walk," has three objectives: the discovery of the Gospel as lived by Francis and Clare, hoping thus to awaken franciscan vocations; fraternal sharing and mutual solidarity; awareness of the country where the walk takes place.

In 1998 the franciscans of Togo could not participate, because of war. But the franciscans of the Ivory Coast participated, for the first time, August 19-30, with 34 young people, 5 friars and one Sister. They walked 120 kilometers. Each day they celebrated the Eucharist, and listened to the teachings of Francis and Clare. They passed through ten villages, and were always warmly received by the people, to whom they brought franciscan joy and peace.

November 17-18, 1998, saw the friars of the Province of Lombardy celebrate the first centenary of the Province's refounding. Among the guests were fr. Stephen Ottenbreit, Vicar General, fr. Antonio Riccio, Definitor General and General Procurator, and fr. Pierantonio Norcini, General Secretary and formerly Minister Provincial in this Province. All the friars gathered together at Monza, on November 17, at the ancient Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Graces. The Provincial Minister, fr. Tarcisio Colombotti, opened the proceedings, thanking the Lord for the unity within the Province, for the martyred and saintly friars of this century, for the missionary thrust, for the gifted men, past and present, and for the thirty-six friars in formation. The Vicar General, in his address, outlined the situation of the Order today, particularly in Europe, where realignments are posing entirely new problems and he encouraged the friars to reflect on the radical existential questions: Who are we? How are we? How can we change? He then spoke of the challenges facing the Order, inviting the friars to a revitalization of our vocation so that we live its essential character. Fr. Antonio Riccio explained the work and procedures of the General Definitorium, and some of the problems of the Office of the Procurator.

The second day began with a visit to the provincial infirmary in the Convent of Sabbioncello, where the Vicar General celebrated the Eucharist with the sick friars.

Then, in Baccanello, the Vicar General and General Definitor met with the thirty-six friars in formation and their formators. Also present were the novices of Piemonte, Venice and Emilia-Romagna, since Baccanello has been the common novitiate for these provinces for the past fifteen years. During this meeting with the young friars, fr. Stephen and fr. Antonio shared a reflection on the priorities of the Order.

St. Bonaventure, The tree of life. St. Bonaventure wrote this little mystical tract in 1260. There are 48 short, but profound, meditations, in which theology, prayer, symbolism and poetry are combined in a beautiful style.

Latin-french text: "L'Arbre de Vie." Translation and introduction by fr. Jacques Guy Bougerol. Les Editions Franciscaines, Paris 1996, 90pp. The translator, who died in August 1997, is well known for his books on St.Bonaventure and for his scholarly work in the College of St.Bonaventure, Grottaferrata (Rome).

Portuguese text: "A Arvore da Vida." Translation, introduction and notes by fr. David Azevedo. Editorial Franciscana, Braga 1997, 102pp.