The Meeting of the Minister and General Definitory with COTAF

From April 22nd through the 26th the Minister General and the Definitory met with the members of COTAF. The meeting was held in response to a mandate of the General Chapter of 2009. Up to now the Minister and his Definitory have met with 11 of the 13 Conferences of the Order.

This meeting took place near Frankfort, in a center within the diocese of Cologne. COTAF is actually composed of 8 Provinces: Germany (1), France (2), Hungary (1), Transylvania (1), Austria (1), Holland (10), Belgium – Flemish (1), and the dependent Custody of Switzerland. All of the Ministers Provincial and the Custos of the Conference were in attendance. The Minister General and the Vicar General, as well as 7 members of the Definitory, participated in the meeting.

April 22nd was dedicated to the presentation of the Conference and of the various Entities that form it. On the morning of the 23rd the Minister General, Br. José Rodriguez Carballo, addressed the Conference, after which a dialogue followed in the meeting room and work continued in study groups. In the afternoon a reflection took place on the possibilities for the Conference. On the morning of the 23rd the final message was discussed and approved and the brothers addressed the question of friars from other Provinces living in the territory of the Provinces of COTAF. They also evaluated the meeting and found it to be very positive.

After lunch the participants of the meeting visited Missionszentrale, and were offered an explanation of its various activities. Afterwards they visited the Cathedral of Cologne and celebrated Mass at the tomb of Blessed John Duns Scotus. Br. José Rodriguez Carballo presided and offered his homily in Italian. The day concluded with a festive meal.

On the 24th, the Vicar General presided at the Liturgy and, after breakfast, the members of the General Definitory returned to Rome.

Minister General’s Homily