The third Conference of the Formators and Vocation Promotion Directors of the Custody of the Holy Land was held – in Rome and in Assisi – from 17th to 24th February 2008. Organized by the Board for Formation and Studies Board, it benefited from the collaboration of Friar Bruno Varriano, Vocation Promotion Director for the Custody and for Europe. Eighteen friars took part: the Secretary for Formation and Studies, the Moderator for Continuous Formation, the masters in Formation, the Dean of the Faculty of Biblical Sciences and Archaeology, the Custody and Regional Vocation Promotion Directors and some friars who contribute to vocational pastoral work.
The Conference opened on Sunday 17th February with a day of retreat in Fontecolombo, led by Friar Angelo Ferro, Guardian of that fraternity.
The first part of the Conference was held in Rome (18th – 20th February) in the Pontificia Università Antonianum, in a room that was kindly lent to us by the Rector Father Johannes Baptist Freyer. The participants listened to papers by Dr. Mario Becciu, Clinical Psychologist and Director of the Centre for Preventive Psychology, on “Mental health and religious life”. During their time in Rome, the participants stayed at the Delegation for the Holy Land, fraternally welcomed by Friar David Maria Jaeger, Custody Delegate for Italy and Friar Gianfranco Pinto Ostuni.
The meeting with the Minister General was appreciated and fruitful and afterwards we prayed Vespers together, followed by dinner in the Delegation.
The Eucharist was celebrated by Father Johannes Baptist Freyer, Rector of the PUA, and the next day by Friar David Maria Jaeger.
In the afternoon of Wednesday 20th, the participants moved to Assisi, welcomed by the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Mary, at Santa Maria degli Angeli, for the second part of the Conference. Friar Noel Muscat, Custodial Secretary for Formation and Studies gave a lesson on “The study of Franciscanism in the various stages of formation”.
Thursday 21st February was an intense day of work for the Father Custos, Friar Pierbattista Pizzaballa, who touched on all the issues concerning formation, studies and vocation promotion in his meetings with the participants.
The days in Assisi were also characterized by visits and Eucharistic celebrations in the sanctuaries of Porziuncola, St. Damian, St. Clare and St. Francis. In San Damiano, the participants met the novices, including Friar Ulises Zarza, the novice of the Custody.
On Saturday 23rd, the Conference came to a conclusion at the convent/sanctuary of La Verna, where the meeting of the Board for Formation and Studies was held, in order to conclude the work on the “Ratio Formationis Custodiæ” which will be presented for approval before the summer. On Sunday 24th February, the Board of Vocation Promotion Directors met, with a check-up on the Conference.
Mass in the Chapel of the Stigmates concluded this powerful moment in the life of those who work as formators and vocation promotion directors in the Custody.
The Conference is a unique opportunity for all formators and vocation promotion directors to meet, especially those who work outside the “centre”, in Syria, Lebanon and Jordan, in Washington and in Buenos Aires.
Friar Noel Muscat ofm
The Conference opened on Sunday 17th February with a day of retreat in Fontecolombo, led by Friar Angelo Ferro, Guardian of that fraternity.
The first part of the Conference was held in Rome (18th – 20th February) in the Pontificia Università Antonianum, in a room that was kindly lent to us by the Rector Father Johannes Baptist Freyer. The participants listened to papers by Dr. Mario Becciu, Clinical Psychologist and Director of the Centre for Preventive Psychology, on “Mental health and religious life”. During their time in Rome, the participants stayed at the Delegation for the Holy Land, fraternally welcomed by Friar David Maria Jaeger, Custody Delegate for Italy and Friar Gianfranco Pinto Ostuni.
The meeting with the Minister General was appreciated and fruitful and afterwards we prayed Vespers together, followed by dinner in the Delegation.
The Eucharist was celebrated by Father Johannes Baptist Freyer, Rector of the PUA, and the next day by Friar David Maria Jaeger.
In the afternoon of Wednesday 20th, the participants moved to Assisi, welcomed by the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Mary, at Santa Maria degli Angeli, for the second part of the Conference. Friar Noel Muscat, Custodial Secretary for Formation and Studies gave a lesson on “The study of Franciscanism in the various stages of formation”.
Thursday 21st February was an intense day of work for the Father Custos, Friar Pierbattista Pizzaballa, who touched on all the issues concerning formation, studies and vocation promotion in his meetings with the participants.
The days in Assisi were also characterized by visits and Eucharistic celebrations in the sanctuaries of Porziuncola, St. Damian, St. Clare and St. Francis. In San Damiano, the participants met the novices, including Friar Ulises Zarza, the novice of the Custody.
On Saturday 23rd, the Conference came to a conclusion at the convent/sanctuary of La Verna, where the meeting of the Board for Formation and Studies was held, in order to conclude the work on the “Ratio Formationis Custodiæ” which will be presented for approval before the summer. On Sunday 24th February, the Board of Vocation Promotion Directors met, with a check-up on the Conference.
Mass in the Chapel of the Stigmates concluded this powerful moment in the life of those who work as formators and vocation promotion directors in the Custody.
The Conference is a unique opportunity for all formators and vocation promotion directors to meet, especially those who work outside the “centre”, in Syria, Lebanon and Jordan, in Washington and in Buenos Aires.
Friar Noel Muscat ofm