At the first light of day, when silence still embraces the ancient stones of Jerusalem, the capitular friars gather promptly at 8:00 a.m. at the Gate of St. Francis. In reverent composure, they set out in procession, preceded by the kawas in traditional dress and escorted by Israeli police authorities. Their destination is steeped in memory and mystery: the Holy Cenacle, the historical first seat of the Custody of the Holy Land, the sacred place where the Lord instituted the Eucharist.
There, in the room traditionally preserved as the site of the Last Supper, the Eucharistic Sacrifice is celebrated, presided over by Br. Alojzy WAROT, President of the Chapter. A celebration rich in meaning, embraced by an atmosphere of reverence and gratitude. The Custos of the Holy Land, Br. Francesco IELPO, offers heartfelt thanks to the Israeli authorities responsible for the Holy Sepulchre and Mount Zion. Particularly, Br. Ibrahim FALTAS serves as the voice and face of gratitude and hope, acting as a mediator on behalf of the Custody and the universal Church for the acquisition of a new right concerning the Cenacle.
In his homily, Br. Alojzy WAROT recalls the singular grace of being able to celebrate precisely where the Lord gave himself in the Eucharist. Following the Gospel of St. John, he highlights how this gesture is deeply rooted in the Passover, and how the Passover itself is rooted in the mystery of love. A love “to the end” that should not only be understood chronologically, but as absolute fullness: a divine, self-giving love that is revealed in the washing of the feet, not merely as an act of humility, but as a manifestation of glory, a theophanic glory.
After the celebration, at 10:00 a.m., the capitular friars gather in the Chapter Hall to begin the morning’s work. The moderator, Br. Marcelo CICCHINELLI, invites Br. Rodrigo MACHADO SOARES to lead the opening prayer, taken from the liturgical aid. The Eighth Admonition (FF 157) is proclaimed, warning against the danger of spiritual envy and reminding that all good comes from the Holy Spirit:
“No one can say: Lord Jesus, except by the Holy Spirit… Whoever envies the good accomplished in a brother, in reality envies the Most High Himself.”
After the roll call, conducted by the secretary Br. Eduardo Masseo GUTIÉRREZ, Br. Marcelo emotionally recalls the celebration at the Holy Cenacle, also emphasizing the meaningful encounter shared with the Israeli authorities present. Then, representatives from the various working groups speak, presenting the conclusions of their studies. A common theme emerges: the preparation of candidates for life in the Custody and, more broadly, in the Franciscan Order.
The second part of the morning is entirely dedicated to Ongoing Formation. Br. Silvio Rogelio DE LA FUENTE presents two reports: one on Ongoing Formation and the other in his role as Delegate for the Commissaries of the Holy Land. In the first, he reviews the path followed from 2016 to 2022, marked by a strong impetus under the guidance of the then moderator Br. Marcello CICCHINELLI. Br. Silvio offers a structured overview of the main challenges in ongoing formation, aligning with the guidelines of the Order and the Church's Magisterium. He focuses particularly on the 2022–2025 three-year period, illustrating both completed and ongoing projects.
In the second report, he explains the development of the CLIO Service (Commissariats Liaison Office), describing numerous meetings with Holy Land Commissaries around the world, in service of communion and mission.
At 3:30 p.m., with the recitation of None, the afternoon session begins. The assembly devotes itself to listening and discussion of the emerging proposals, which are addressed both in plenary and within the study groups, whose work will resume the following day, Friday.
The day concludes with the solemn celebration of Vespers, presided over by Br. Marcello GHIRLANDO, in memory of St. Ignatius of Loyola—an emblematic figure of the 16th-century Catholic Reformation and himself a pilgrim in the Holy Land. He is remembered for his radical consecration to the Lord, his spirituality of “seeking and finding God in all things”, and his call to be “contemplative in action”: a life marked by discernment, reflection on everyday reality, and concrete commitment to justice in service to others.
Thus ends an intense and rich day, illumined by the light of the Cenacle, which continues to speak to the hearts of the friars and of the entire Church.
