Argentina, IV Centenary of the Founding of the Province

IV Centenary. In the Minor Papal Basilica of St. Ursula and Eleven Thousand Virgins, in the presence of a packed church, the Minister Provincial, Br. José Gutiérrez Olmos Enid, OFM, marked the Opening of the Jubilee Year of the Fourth Centenary of the canonical erection of the Province (1612 – 2012). The Provincial Minister recalled that in 2010 the road toward the celebration of 400 years began in the Province of Mendoza by apologizing to God for all the infidelities to His love, to the brothers, the Charism, and even ourselves. On July 9, 2011, there was a meeting to thank God for all He has done, is doing, and will do for the Province of the Assumption, who turns 400 years. This a reason to give thanks to our Mother, the Blessed Virgin, for her advocacy, her maternal protection, and thank all the brothers who from the beginning, even before the Province was formed, with their way of life, have shown and kept alive the beautiful Franciscan charism the Lord has given to the Church.

On July 9, 2012, at 10, 30 began the acts for the fourth centenary of the founding of the Franciscan Province of the Assumption. First of all, the Minister Provincial, Br. Jose Gutierrez Enid Olmos, read the communiqué, giving start to the Jubilee Year of the fourth centenary. At 11, 00, Br. Jorge David Catalán, OFM, spoke about “the friars who were outstanding in these past 400 years of the Province”. Then, the Minister Provincial, Br. José Enid Gutiérrez Olmos, spoke about “The keys of evangelization in the history of the Province “.

At 12.30, the celebration of the Eucharist was presided by H.E. Rev. Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, primate of Buenos Aires, who in his homily, referring to this event of the Founding of the Province, said: “In this celebration of 400 years of the Province, we pray to the Mother of God, our Mother, who hastened to believe, to pray to Him that this Province of 400 years, be renewed in faith and in her ability to be of service, especially fraternal service. May she never allow the Province to grow old, but age, instead, like the “Good Wine”! Today you are going to renew your vows … Therefore, I suggest as a brother to “Let yourself be in wonderment over the novelty.” Then, you will not say, “I have so many years of profession …;” “rather, look at how I have been aging through the years between sin and grace, between unbelief and faith, selfishness and service, control and surprise.”

Lastly, before the final blessing, the Provincial Ministers and Definitors present, along with all the friars of the Province, renewed their profession as Friars Minor to Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio.