On the sunny day with clear autumn sky, the 8th Provincial Chapter was held at the St. Franciscan Friary with Retreat House in Kiryuu, located about 100 km north of Tokyo. The participants were 39 in all, including the Delegates from all over Japan, the Friars who were ex officio members of the Chapter, and the Secretaries.

The members of the Chapter deliberated on the renewal of the structures and the Particular Statutes of the Chapter in order to make the foundation to enhance the brotherhood and fraternity.

During these three years, The Minister Provincial Fr. Maekawa has energetically made visits on the local friaries throughout Japan, and found it necessary to go ahead with the plan of 'establishing the Community which could become the core'. In order to make it real, it is of first importance for all the brothers to know and understand one another better. From this point of view, with the purpose of enhancing the brotherhood and making the community the true Fraternity, the agenda of the Chapter mostly concentrated on the renewal of the structures and the Particular Statutes of the Province. As some important items have been voted, there has been a great progress for the legalistic preparation to build up a Fraternal Community. It seems as if we have just started towards the coming 21st century.

In spite of the fact that we had so many important topics to discuss within the limited time, we could also have enough time to pray and rest.
During the Chapter, the following four Provincial Definitors were elected.

1. fr. Claudio GIANESIN
2. fr. Job TODA Michio
3. fr. Linus BODAKAJ Takeshi
4. fr. Philippus HAMADA Satoru

Fr. Francis Enatsu, OFM - The Secretary of the Japanese Province

St. John the Baptist Province (USA) - 29.10.1998

Fr. Bernardin Schneider's Japanese critical annotated translation of I-II Chronicles was published in July. The Studium Biblicum Franciscanum has so far published 36 volumes of annotated critical translations of the books of the Bible, with two to go. After Isaiah and Jeremiah are finishedÖBernie hopes by the year 2000Öthe books will be compiled into one volume. Assisting him in the work are John Seizo Taira and Anna Kiyo Okayasu.

Fr. Francis Tebbe was executive producer and general editor for a print and video resource that recently received finalist honors in the 19th annual Telly Awards competition. Priestly Relationships: Freedom through Boundaries, was created and produced by the National Organization for Continuing Education of Roman Catholic Clergy (NOCERCC), of which Francis is president. A two-year project completed by Golden Dome Productions of South Bend, Ind., and released in June, 1997, Priestly Relationships is intended for use by priests in understanding issues of intimacy, sexuality and boundaries.

Pastor Bart Pax and St. Mary of the Angels Church in New Orleans were featured prominently in an ABC-TV documentary aired around the country in September and October. Blessed Are the Peacemakers was produced by Sutherland Media Productions Inc. of Washington, D.C., for the Catholic Communication Campaign of the United States Catholic Conference. Last May at St. Mary of the Angels, filmmakers recorded a meeting of All Congregations Together, a New Orleans faith-based community organization that is working to achieve positive social change.

Fr. Charlie Smiech celebrated Mass on the stage of New York's Lincoln Center in July as part of a weekend retreat for about 80 operatic singers, musicians, artists and ballet dancers. "I found these people were very spiritual," he says. "Sometimes you see these people on stage and think, 'What a marvelous life.' I really don't get terribly excited about what a person does, but more, what is God doing with that person in their life at that moment. What gets me going is you see people hungering for spiritual food."

(Transmitted to our office tooday Sunday, November 22, 1998 by Toni Cashnelli, - Communications Director - St. John the Baptist Province )

Holy Name Province (USA) - 18.11.1998

Chapter '99 Chapter '99 will have 'laity proportional to friars' to discuss future directions in province At the November session, the provincial council approved inviting some lay partners in ministry to next year's provincial chapter. "They will join the friars," John Felice noted, "in discussing future directions in the areas of social justice, as well as partnership in ministry." The number of laity will be proportional to the number of friars attending and the number of small groups anticipated. "Laity who are members of a directorate or some provincial committee will be among the first invited," John said. In related business, the council brainstormed each of the chapter themes and also confirmed two of three outside speakers. Br. William Short, OFM, will address fraternal life, and Doris Donnelly will talk on partnership in ministry. Angel's Attic to clothe the needy Angel's Attic opened last Saturday. Recently awarded a grant from Holy Name Province's Benevolence Fund, the thrift shop is the newest project of the Ecumenical Community Service Committee, composed of pastors and parishioners from Carlstadt Presbyterian, Christ Methodist and St. Joseph's of East Rutherford. The project has been a dream of the group since it began two years ago, and the grant allowed the committee to put the dream into action. The store has already been rented for the coming year. The committee's vision is of a store as a place to buy secondhand clothes (proceeds will eventually pay for rent, utilities and support work for the poor), as well as a place for those in need to get food or information about existing programs in the country or items that might be available from individuals; a place to sit and have a cup of coffee and be treated with dignity by someone who can at least lend a listening ear. Eventually, the thrift shop will be open six days a week, depending on the number of volunteers. The month before, the South Bergen Crop Walk for Hunger drew parishioners from the three churches and Sacred Heart of Wallington. The mayors of East Rutherford and Wallington were honored quests, and students from Wallington and Becton Schools, as well as local Brownies and Girl Scouts, joined in. Donations totaled more than $10,000, and 25 percent of the total was returned to the Community Service Committee to be used locally, with the balance going for the relief of hunger in other areas worldwide. Friars aid victims of famine, floods in Korea, Honduras It is already quite cold in North Korea, says Francis Kim, who is spearheading provision of food, medicine and other needs for the poor there. Local supplies are depleted, says Francis, mainly because of government focus on military equipment. On his second trip, in October, the friar was accompanied by Mr. Michael Kim (no relation), chairman of the board of Franciscan Missionary Charities, and Mr. Anthony Hung, a director of the organization based at 31st Street in NYC. At the only Catholic church in Pyongyang, Francis celebrated Mass, and he and his associates donated a statue of St. Francis. In his homily, the bridge- building South Korean reminded the North Korean congregation that St. Francis is a patron of peace, who gave away his riches to follow the Gospel. "I asked people to help each other and live for peace, especially for peaceful unification of the Korean people," he explained to Catholic New York. The FMC group, which is articulating appeals, hopes to start a noodle factory in a seacoast town in the spring. Francis is also working with Catholic Relief Services to find a way to ship clothing in. On the other side of the globe, Hurricane Mitch hit Honduras hard, leaving some 10,000 people dead and half a million homeless. Mudslides compound the problem-international crews are flattening roads so vital supplies can get through to remote areas. HNP vicar Charles Miller was quick to call Immaculate Conception provincial Robert Compagna when he got the news about the Central American country. The other NYC-based province has 12 missionaries there. Communication has been mostly via calls from Honduras through Canada-a direct connection with NYC seemed impossible. "Although we can't communicate directly with them all," said Robert, "we believe none of the friars and sisters were lost. They are able to be with their people in the capital of Tegucigalpa and elsewhere throughout the battered nation." Denis Clark of HNP's Franciscan Missionary Union has arranged a contribution to I.C. province's fund for aid. "We're sending this to our sister province," says Denis, "for them to help the people in their missions which are in great distress." "Brother province" is more like it: Xavier Carnicelli, Paul's brother, served 37 years in Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador. He is now at St. Cabrini Nursing Home, Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.

(Transmitted to our office tooday Sunday, November 22, 1998 Cassian A. Miles, OFM, and Janet E. Gianopoulos

Provincia di S. Vigilio, Trento - (Italia) - 24.06.1998

Nei giorni 1-4 giugno u.s. si è tenuto nella Provincia tridentina di S. Vigilio il Capitolo Spirituale - Formativo, sul tema “Riempire la terra del Vangelo di Cristo”. Al Capitolo sono intervenuti il Ministro Generale Giacomo Bini ed il Definitore Generale Antonio Riccio, accompagnati dal vicesegretario generale Pio Vulcan, nei giorni 3 - 5 giugno. Nel pomeriggio del 3 giugno il Ministro ha offerto la sua testimonianza sul tema dell’evangelizzazione rileggendo in quest’ottica le diverse fasi della sua esperienza di vita francescana, in Italia, in Africa ed a servizio dell’Ordine. Al mattino del 4 giugno, davanti a circa 90 frati, ha presentato le priorità dell’Ordine per il sessennio 1997-2003, insistendo sulla priorità dello spirito di orazione e devozione, della fraternità itinerante e della formazione. Al pomeriggio dello stesso giorno ha incontrato i rappresentanti dell’Ordine Francescano Secolare, della Gioventù Francescana e delle religiose francescane, esortandole ad offrire la testimonianza della fraternità evangelica nel cuore del mondo secolarizzato. Nel corso della medesima visita il Generale ha voluto incontrare pure i giovani in formazione, i confratelli ammalati dell’Infermeria Provinciale, le sorelle Clarisse del monastero di Borgo Valsugana, la casa di accoglienza per i nuovi poveri di Cles ed il Definitorio Provinciale. Al pomeriggio del 5 giugno è rientrato a Roma.

(Transmitted to our office tooday Sunday, November 22, 1998 by Fr. Saverio Biasi min. prov.)

Immaculate Conception Province (USA) - 18.06.1998

Provincial Minister Robert Campagna was host to Provnicial Ministers of the English Speaking Conference at our new Provincial Curia in Manhattan during their bi-annual meeting March 2 through March 6. During their week-long meeting the Ministers reviewed the draft copy of the six-year plan for the Order put forth by the General Administration in Rome. As a result of their review, the Ministers will work to provide friars with a study guide to General Minister Giacomo Binis six- year plan. The goal of the study guide is to facilitate the study of this plan in light of our Franciscan heritage while taking into consideration the direction the Order has taken over the past six years and the direction given the Order from the Vatican. The 170-page study guide is scheduled to be printed by Franciscan Publishers in the near future.

The meeting was attended by Provincial Ministers: Robert Campagna (Immaculate Conception); John Felice (Holy Name); Kurt Hartrich (Sacred Heart); John Bok (St. John the Baptist); Paul Reczek (Assumption); Finian McGinn (Saint Barbara); Gilbert Schneider (Our Lady of Guadalupe); Ulic Troy (Ireland); Austin McCormick (Immaculate Conception, England); Donald McDonald (Christ the King, Canada); David Kohut (Holy Savior Custody, USA); James Carroll (St. Mary of the Angels Custody, USA). OFM Conference Executive Secretary Ronald Bolfeta was also in attendance. General Councilor Sean Collins was also a participant in the meeting. During the last two days of the conference, Romano Almagno delivered a presentation on leadership models.

The Ministers also had the opportunity to take in some of the sights that New York City has to offer. Fabian Grifone, stationed at Precious Blood Parish on Mulberry Street, brought the friars on a tour of interesting sights in the city. Fabian is a registered tour agent for the City of New York. The full-day tour of the city was followed by a festive dinner at a local restaurant in "Little Italy." The friars of the Conference enjoyed the hospitality of the Province, and were housed at three of our friaries for the duration of the Conference - the Provincial Curia, Padua Friary, and the friary at 147 Thompson Street. The conference sessions, meals, and the celebration of the Eucharist was held each day of the conference at our Provincial Curia.

At a joyous celebration at St. Lawrence Church in Toronto, Canada, three of our brothers: Michael Ciryak, Vit Fiala and Lawrence Parent were ordained to the presbyteral order by Archbishop Aloysius Cardinal Ambrozic, ordinary of the Toronto Archdiocese. The May 23rd celebration brought friars from around the Province along with priests, family and friends from the area.

On June 24, novices Rudolfo Borja, Michael Corcione and Roger Hall will make their first profession of vows at a celebration at St. Mary's Church in Onset, Massachusetts. Later in the summer, friars Mark Brown, Christopher Meyers, and Juniper O'Connor will make their solemn profession of vows at a celebration at St. Ann's Church in Marlboro, Massachusetts.

(General Councilor Sean Collins took the opportunity to visit with some of the fraternities of Immaculate Conception Province during February-March.) The Minister General and his Definitory gladly avail themselves of every possible opportunity to visit the friars, for two reasons: to get to know in a personal and immediate way who our friars are and how they are living and thinking today, and to share with them the Definitory's hopes and priorities for the next six years. Following a week in Santa Barbara Province in California, where he participated in a meetings of Guardians and Vicars in San Damiano Retreat Center, Danville, and visited the Bay area, Sean flew to Toronto at the invitation of Provincial Minister Robert Campagna, arriving on Sunday February 22nd.

He was met at the airport by Provincial Councilor Antonio Nardoianni and colleague Romano Almagno, who has been working closely with the General Administration as General Delegate for the Byzantine Custody. Romano kindly agreed to accompany Sean on his IC visit. Sean stayed in Toronto for three days as house-guest of the friars of St. Jane Francis de Chantal Friary, Guardian Augustin Donini and Pastor and Foundation Councillor Claudio Moser. The thriving life of the parish and the dedication of the friars impressed him greatly - especially the crowds for beginning-of-Lent Masses on Ash Wednesday. He also visited Saint Jude Friary, where Pastor Celestino Canzio made him very welcome as he snatched a break between two funerals.

On Monday afternoon Antonio and Romano brought Sean to see the new Retreat House in Orangeville. This splendid 150 acre property was formerly a formation house of the Christian Brothers, and the friars were strongly encouraged by Archbishop (invested as Cardinal in Rome just the day before) Ambrozic to acquire it as a retreat facility. It is buzzing with activity, and bookings are secured for a long time ahead. Situated as it is amid majestic woods and with its own river and lake, it is ideally suited for reflection, prayer and study. The visitors were shown around by Mary Volpe and Brother Philip Adamo. They unfortunately missed John Cella, until recently Development Director at the General Curia, who was away on business.

On Tuesday the friars of St. Charles Borromeo Friary hosted a Shrove Tuesday lunch which was attended by a large number of friars based in the Toronto area, mainly from Immaculate Conception Province, but also from the Maltese, Lithuanian and Holy Name Provinces. Guardian Michael D'Cruz was a most gracious host and Ralph Paonessa, Foundation President, welcomed the guests, among whom was Raimondo Ricca, former Provincial of Calabria and Guardian of the International College of Saint Anthony in Rome, who was guest-preacher for Lenten Missions in our Toronto parishes. At the end of the meal, Sean spoke to thank the friars for their hospitality, to congratulate them on their fraternal spirit and to encourage them to continue to highlight and implement the priorities of the Order as we prepare for the new Millennium. That evening Antonio and Romano took Sean to visit St. Francis Friary, where Guardian and Pastor Gregory Botte showed him the splendidly adorned Church and also brought him to visit the large number of people who were being provided with a first-class meal by a team of parish helpers in the crypt. Afterwards the group called to see the Lithuanian Resurrection Friary in College Street, where they met the friars and were shown around by the Guardian, Augustine Simanavicius.

After an all-too-brief visit to Toronto, Romano and Sean flew to Boston, where they were met by Charles Trebino of St. Leonard's Friary, who was to be their guide over the next few days - thanks to the generosity of Guardian Michael Nappo. The hospitality of the friars at St. Leonard's was incredible, and the food was splendid. A highlight of the Boston stopover was the opportunity to visit two Formation Fraternities - the Post Novitiate Friary in Brighton and the Novitiate in Onset. Brighton was first. Having taken a quick spin round the campus of St. Johns Seminary Charles, Romano and Sean crossed to St. Bonaventure Friary and were warmly welcomed by Primo Piscitello and the friars. After a tour of the house (once a Jesuit house, they were told) they joined the fraternity for Evening Prayer in the beautiful basement chapel.

After soul-food came body-food, in the equally fine setting of the dining room. Tom Washburn revealed his exceptional skills as a cook; the New England scallops were delicious. Conversation sparkled as Primo and Romano capped each other's anecdotes, weaving the tapestry of a new Fioretti in a truly fraternal setting. It was a most memorable evening. On the following morning, following a delightful visit with the Poor Clares at Jamaica Plain, Sean, Romano and Charles headed for Cape Cod and the Novitiate. Like the children of Israel (to alter the metaphor) they had to part the waters of the sea to get to the house, but once there they got a decidedly better deal than wandering in the wilderness. Regis, Juniper and the novices, together with the friars from St. Margaret's, received them royally and plied them with what was airily referred to as 'a light lunch. The weather was perfect - a bright spring sun in a cloudless sky - for walking the beach and exploring the area.

Then Regis invited Sean to a sharing session with himself and the novices, which Sean gladly accepted. He took the opportunity to put before them the vision of Brother Giacomo and the Definitory for the fraternity of the future, emphasizing that it would have to be a closely-knit group of brothers who were each passionately committed to Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God, who never failed to discern together concerning life-style and ministry, eager only to place themselves and their creativity at the service of rebuilding the Church and bringing the good news to the poor and marginalized. This fraternity would be 'cheerful and courteous to all', preferring to draw people to love God and each other through joyful service offered freely and respectfully rather than bludgeoning them into sullen submission by means of threats or hard-sell pressure. Then all celebrated Evening Prayer (the affinity with the chapel in Brighton was noticeable in the similar style of tabernacle), and sat down to another festive meal. The ability of the IC friars to make every shared meal a sacrament of courteous and joyful fraternity is striking, and reminded Sean of something the Minister General recalled in a talk to the Curia fraternity: when, as a student in Paris, he was inclined to skip some meals because he didn't like the food, an old friar said to him: "Brother, we come to the refectory to be together - and to eat". It is strange if we, the form of whose deepest worship is a meal, rush through our daily meals, regarding them only as a practical arrangement for shovelling calories into our system!

On Friday morning Romano brought Sean on a walking tour of central Boston, and many places which had been just names and historical references came to life for him. In the afternoon Charles drove them both to Andover where Sean visited the Poor Clares with Gabriel Aceto. Then he was shown the elegant and ample facilities of the Retreat Centre, which is kept very busy all year round. Finally the Guardian, John Bavaro, treated the fraternity and guests to dinner, prepared by himself. It was a beautiful gathering, where Sean also renewed the acquaintance of the friars of the Vocation team who had met with Giacomo and himself in Rome last October. All good things come to and end, and on Saturday morning Charles brought Romano and Sean to Logan airport for the flight to New York's La Guardia, and the meeting of the English Speaking Conference in Thompson Street. This meeting had two highlights: first was the outstanding hospitality of Robert, Steven, Simeon, Paschal, Sixtus and all the friars in the brand new Provincial Curia, where everything was laid on and nothing was missing; the second was the inspired and challenging presentations of Romano to the assembled Provincial Ministers. It was a wonderful week, in which the Province of the Immaculate Conception was priviledged to host such a distinguished guest.

(Transmitted to our office tooday Sunday, November 22, 1998)