The Custodial Curia and Its Members
The Custodial Curia, headed by the Custos of the Holy Land, brings together all of the services of the Custody of the Holy Land allowing it, wherever it is present, to live out its vocation in order to welcome pilgrims, serve the poor, carrying out local ministry and to guard and carry out the liturgical life of the Holy Places.
It represents all of the friars, both in local church life, and with the Catholic priests of the Holy Land, and through ecumenical relations and dialogue with other religions. Furthermore, it centralizes financial services, social assistance and communication (six magazines, a printing shop, a multimedia production center, the Christian Media Center and a website), all administrative services related to the friars (from training to appointments, to procedures to obtain visas). The Curia maintains relationships with the General Curia of the Franciscan Order and every monastery of the Custody of the Holy Land in the Middle East (Cyprus, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria) and those places around the world that fall under its direct jurisdiction (Argentina, Greece, Italy, Spain, are United) and the 66 Commissariats and 31 Deputy Commissariats of the Holy Land that are present in 51 countries.
The religious and official ceremonies give the different components of the Curia a very solemn appearance, but day in and day out, it works to serve the Holy Land and to help to welcome pilgrims. In recent years, several members of the Curia and other friars or lay people delegated to this task, welcomed thousands of pilgrims to St. Savior's, highlighting the current realities of the Custody, its work in the Holy Land and transmitting the “grace” of the Holy Places, in which Christianity's spiritual roots can be found.
The Custos of the Holy Land
The Custos of the Holy Land is the Minister Provincial (i.e. the major superior) of the Friars Minor living throughout the Middle East. He has jurisdiction over the territories of Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt (in part), Cyprus and Rhodes without counting the numerous houses or Commissariats in various parts of the world (worth mentioning are those in Rome and Washington).
The Custos of the Holy Land is the Minister Provincial (i.e. the major superior) of the Friars Minor living throughout the Middle East. He has jurisdiction over the territories of Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt (in part), Cyprus and Rhodes without counting the numerous houses or Commissariats in various parts of the world (worth mentioning are those in Rome and Washington).
The main task of the Custos, in addition to animating the life of the friars, is to coordinate and direct the reception of pilgrims who come to the Holy Land for pilgrimage and pray at the shrines of our Redemption. This task was bestowed by the Holy See over 600 years ago. The term used at those times to designate this task was "custody" of the holy places, from which derived the terms still in use "Custody" and "Custos ".
The first and most important role of the Custos, therefore, is to receive the pilgrims at the Holy Shrines, offering them spaces of prayer and making available hostels for those who cannot afford expensive hotels.
The Custos ensures that friars are available to receive and talk with pilgrims at the holy places. His jurisdiction includes all the Catholic Christian sanctuaries. He ensures their economic support in order that this important function is fulfilled.
Another mission that the Custos assumes is to coordinate information about the Holy Land and instill in the Christians of the world the "loving care" for these sites: archaeological excavations at the holy places, publication of ancient pilgrimages and above all, the study of the Bible through geography and history of these same sites where the events took place. For this reason the Custody has set up the SBF, FAI, FPP, to name a few. These activities depend mainly on the Custos who sponsors such initiatives.
Another important task the Custos undertakes is to care for and sustain, in agreement with the local church, the Christian presence in the Holy Land through various initiatives. This includes ministry to schools and parishes and is done in conjunction with the local church.
These initiatives clearly require not only the moral support of Christians throughout the world, but also their economical support. It is for this reason that during the centuries various "Commissariats of the Holy Land" were set up world-wide to foster awareness of the friars living in the Holy Land and simultaneously solicit funds to help sustain the work of the Custody.
All these Commissariats (and they are many) depend directly on the Custos . Given the importance of the role of the Custos he is not elected like the other Ministers Provincial of the Order. Rather, he is directly appointed by the Holy See after a consultation with the friars of the Custody and the presentation made by the Order’s governing body.
In the Holy Land, the Custos is looked upon as one of the main Christian religious authorities. Together with the Greek Orthodox Patriarch and the Armenian Orthodox Patriarch, he is responsible of the status quo, the code that regulates life at the Holy Sepulchre in the Nativity Church in Bethlehem. By right, he forms part of the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land (the Bishops of the local Catholic Church).
The Current Custos
Br. Francesco Patton
Custos of the Holy Land
Br. Francesco Patton
Custos of the Holy Land
The present Custos is Fr. Francesco Patton, who has been elected Custos of the Holy Land by the General Definitorium of the Order of Friars Minor on 20 May 2016 for a six-year term.
Fr. Francesco Patton was born in Trent in the diocese of Trent on December 23rd, 1963. He belongs to the Franciscan
Province of St. Anthony in Italy. He made his first religious profession on September 7th 1983 and his solemn profession on October 4th, 1986; then was ordained to the ministerial priesthood on June 26th, 1989. In 1993 he earned a Licentiate in Communication Sciences at the Pontifical Salesian University in Rome.
He served in various capacities in his province and also within the Order. He was twice Secretary General of the General Chapters in 2003 and 2009. Visitator General in 2003. Minister Provincial of St. Vigilium (Trent, Italy) from 2008 to 2016.
President of the Conference of Provincial Ministers of Italy and Albania (COMPI), 2010-2013.
He also served in many capacities outside of the Order: as member of the Diocesan Presbyteral Council and secretary of the Diocesan Pastoral Council of the archdiocese of Trent; professor of Social Communications at the Studio Teologico Accademico Tridentino; collaborator of the Diocesan Weekly, the Diocesan Radio and Telepace Trent; and enrolled with the journalists of Trentino-Alto Adige as publicist since 1991.
He is fluent in English and Spanish, besides his native Italian.
The Vicar
The Vicar of the Holy Land is part of the Custodial Curia.
He supports around the role of the Custos and, in his absence, presides over ceremonies and responsibilities that would be granted to the latter.
If the role of the Custos becomes vacant, it is the Vicar who, within 15 days, calls together the Discretorium Custodial so as to proceed with the election of a new Custos.
Br. Dobromir Jasztal
current Custodial Vicar
Br. Dobromir Jasztal
current Custodial Vicar
Fr. Dobromir Jacek Jasztal, al alum of the Province of the Assumption of the B.M.V. in Poland, has been serving the Custody of the Holy Land since 1992.
Born on August 15, 1966, he entered the Order of Friars Minor on August 30, 1982, and made his first vows on August 27, 1983.
Between 1986-1988, he continued to study philosophy at the Franciscan Province of Katowice-Panewniki in Poland, and between 1988-1992, he studied theology at the International Seminary of the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land in Jerusalem. He made made his second vows on the October 8, 1989, when he was ordained a deacon; he was subsequently ordained a priest on June 29, 1991, and a presbyter on May 14, 1992.
Following his priestly ordination, starting in 1992, he continued to study at the School of Canon Law at the Pontifical Athenaeum Antonianum, receiving his Bachelor's in 1994 and his doctorate in 1996.
From 1997 to the present, he has been a professor of canon law at the Studium Theologicum Jerosolymitanum and President of the Commission for Legal Affairs of the Custody of the Holy Land in Jerusalem.
From 1998 to 2004, he held the office of Discrete of the Holy Land, Rector of the Franciscan International Seminary, and professor and Secretary of Formation and Studies for the Custody of the Holy Land.
From 2004 to 2007 he was Guardian of the Fraternity of the Monastery of the Flagellation in Jerusalem; from 2006 to 2007, he was viice-treasurer of the Custody; from 2007 to 2010, he was Treasurer of the Custody and, for the third time, he also served as Discrete of the Holy Land.
From 2010 to 2013, he was Guardian of the Fraternity of the Convent of St. John in Ain Karem and director of the Terra Sancta Lodge.
During the Custody Chapter of 2013, he was elected Vicar of the Custody of the Holy Land and in the 2016, he was re-elected for another six-year term.
He speaks Polish, Italian, and he knows English and French; he also understands Spanish and Russian.
The secretary
The General Secretary of the Custody is a member of the Curia. He is not the private secretary of the Custos: this position is currently held by a lay person. He is, above all, at the service of all the mechanisms of the Custody, including, in the first place, the Discretorium. He prepares the agenda of the meetings of the Discretorium, subsequently drawing up the minutes and ensuring the implementation of the decisions that have been taken. He is responsible for all the correspondence of the Custody with the Universal Church, with the local Church of all confessions and rites, with the Franciscan Order and the Commissars of the Holy Land and, in the last place, with all the friars, as required by the service. He is also involved in most of the administrative affairs of the Custody.
Br. Marco Carrara
current Holy Land's Secretary
Br. Marco Carrara
current Holy Land's Secretary
Born in Alzano Lombardo (Bergamo), Italy, June 28, 1984
He made his first profession on September 6th, 2012 and his solemn profession on October 6th, 2018.
He was ordained a deacon on the 12th of May 2019 and he was ordained a priest on December 7, 2019.
He is also a student of Psychology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
The bursar
The Bursar is elected to be in charge of the financial services of the Custody and to manage expenses and revenue under the direction of the Discretorium and in relation with the Commissars of the Holy Land. He also coordinates the personnel and the Housing and Rental Department which aids local Christians by allocating them housing belonging to the Custody.
Br. Ramzi Sidawi
current bursar of the Custody
Br. Ramzi Sidawi
current bursar of the Custody
Born in Jerusalem, Israel 15th December 1972, Licentiate in Theology.
He made his first profession 17th September 1996 and his first solemn profession 15th October 2000.
He was ordained a priest 29th June 2002.
The discretorium
The Discretes make up the Discretorium; they are friars who are elected according to the different language groups (a linguistic group is represented by at least 12 people who speak the same language) and they are directly related to the Curia.
The Discretorium meets once a month to help the Custos in making various decisions.
The Discretorium approves the annual accounts and the reports of the Friars to who it has entrusted specific tasks.
At least once a year, it welcomes those responsible for formation, who must report on their activities. The Custos and the Custodial Vicar are members by right of Discretorium.
The Discretorium, in regards to specific situations, allow any friar or lay person to intervene in order to seek counsel and advice.
Br. John Luke Gregory
Discrete for the English-speaking group
Br. John Luke Gregory
Discrete for the English-speaking group
British citizen, born in 1958.
In 1991, he entered the Province of the Holy Land.
In 1996, he made his solemn vows.
In 1998, he was ordained a priest.
Doctor of Sacred Theology and Philosophy.
Since 2004, he has been the parish priest, bursar, local Vicar of the Convent of Santa Maria della Vittoria - Rhodes and vicar general of the Archdiocese of Rhodes.
He was elected as Discrete by the Custodial Chapter in July 2016 for a period of 3 years and elected again at the July 2019 Chapter for another three years.
Br. Bruno Varriano
Discrete for the Italian-speaking group
Br. Bruno Varriano
Discrete for the Italian-speaking group
Italian national, born in 1971.
In 1996, he entered the Province of the Holy Land.
In 2003, he made his solemn vows.
In 1997, he was ordained a priest.
Bachelor's in Spiritual Theology, Doctor of Clinical Psychology, Master in Graphological Consulting.
Currently, he is the Guardian and Rector of the Monastery of the Most Holy Annunciation in Nazareth.
He was elected discrete by the Custodial Chapter in July 2016 for a period of 3 years and elected again at the July 2019 Chapter for another three years.
Br. Ibrahim Faltas
Descrete Eastern group
Br. Ibrahim Faltas
Descrete Eastern group
Egyptian citizen, born in Kaur and-Dawar in 1964.
In 1988, he entered the Province of the Holy Land.
In 1992, he made his solemn vows.
In 1992, he was ordained a priest.
From 2013 to 2016, he held the position of Treasurer General.
He was elected discrete by the Custodial Chapter in July 2016 for a period of 3 years and elected again at the July 2019 Chapter for another three years.
Br. Sinisa Srebenovic
Discrete for the Greek-Slavic-Franco-German-speaking group
Br. Sinisa Srebenovic
Discrete for the Greek-Slavic-Franco-German-speaking group
Croatian citizen, born in 1981.
In 1999, he entered the Province of St. Cyril and Methodius (Croatia).
In 2005, he made his solemn vows.
In 2015, he was ordained a deacon.
Since 2006, he has served the Custody of the Holy Land.
He is the Sacristan at the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth.
He was elected a Discrete by the Custodial Chapter in July 2013 for a period of three years. In Custodial Chapter of July 2016, Br. Sinisa was reappointed for a three-year term and elected again at the July 2019 Chapter for another three years.
Br. Marcelo Ariel Cichinelli
Discrete for the Spanish-Portuguese group
Br. Marcelo Ariel Cichinelli
Discrete for the Spanish-Portuguese group
Argentine citizen, born in 1974.
In 2001, he entered the Province of the Holy Land.
In 2007, he made his solemn vows.
In 2009, he was ordained priest.
Since 2010, he has been the Moderator for Ongoing Formation. He is in charge of the Liturgical Celebrations of the Custody. Custodial Master of Ceremonies.
He was elected discrete by the Custodial Chapter in July 2013 for a period of three years.
In Custodial Chapter of July 2016, Br. Marcelo was reappointed for a three-year term and elected again at the July 2019 Chapter for another three years.