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"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. 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
God the
Father
Franciscan Family's third Jubilee 2000 letter
The Hungarian Mission in China
Minister Genera: Engagements
Small/Large Notices
Costa Rica: I
Franciscans and the culture of
peace
Mauritius an
international fraternity
Southslav Conference: Franciscan
Parishes
Belgium celebrates its chinese
martyrs
Creation: mirror of the Creator
The Priorities ... of the
Province of the Marches
Bosnia
Erzegovina - Mostar: the transfer of
parishes
Italy, Benevento: Extraordinary Marian
Year
Ivory Coast (Africa): the Gospel
Walk
100 Years with the Province of
Lombardy
Franciscan Writings
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by John Abela ofm
for Communications Office - Rome
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