Words of Gratitude for General Vicar and Definitors
(bro John Doctor)

Dear Brothers,

We gather tonight to give praise and thanks to God for Dine brothers who have served us well these past six years. We are grateful for Estevao Ottenbreit, our General Vicar, and our General Definitors:

Sean Collins, O.F.M. Kapistran Martzall, O.F .M. Gerardo Moore, O.F.M. Antonio Riccio, O.F .M. Jose CarbaIlo, O.F.M. Peter Schorr, O.F .M., Peter Williams, O.F.M. Xavier Yu

Here at the Portiuncula in 1997 each of these brothers was called by name through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and through the discernment of the brothers at that General Chapter. They were called to serve this brotherhood as General Vicar and as members of the General Definitorium.

Words cannot express our gratitude for the service you have given to this brotherhood in these past six years. However, tonight, we gather in prayer to give praise and thanks to God for the gift each of your are to our fraternity .

As we heard from the Testament of Francis at the beginning of this day, "the Lord gave me brothers," we can honestly say to each of you thank you for being a brother to each of us and our respective Provinces and Conferences.

(Addressing Estevao and the Definitors) In the name of all the brothers gathered here at this General Chapter, we thank you and God for your willingness to serve the Order in these past six years. We thank you and God for sacrificing your personal dreams, interests and goals to serve this fraternity. We are also grateful for your openness to listen to our concerns and to be our voice to the General Minister, General Definitorium and the various offices of the General Curia. We thank you and God for your willingness to walk with us in animating the brothers in our respective Provinces and Custodies. We likewise thank you for your sense ofhumor. Without it you would not be here tonight.

As a General Definitorium, we are most appreciative of your corporate leadership. We express our gratitude for your undying commitment to the five priorities of the Order. We thank you for modeling these priorities by your lives and being brothers to each other.

We thank you for the support your have been to Giacomo Bini and collaborating with him in revitalizing the arder so that we afe truly becoming a Fraternity-in-Mission.

In the Psalms we pray: "Sing a new song." Giacomo has taught each of you the melody of the five priorities. In turning you have attempted to teach us the melody. We admire your diligence since there is still some cacophony among us. We are not ready to make a record or CD but we are on the way because of your efforts.

Above all we are grateful to God for being our brothers and brothering us.

(Invite the General Vicar and General Definitors to the front of the Aula. Ask the Chapter Body to extend their right hand in a blessing over these brothers.)

May God, our Father, who has called each of you by name, grant you the grace of perseverance to walk in the footprints of His Son, Jesus Christ.

May Jesus, our brother, continue to animate your lire through the power of the paschal mystery so that you may be salt and light for all.

May the Spirit continue to enflame your hearts with a passion to proclaim the Gospels by your lives.

In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Thank you, my brothers for a job well done.