The triennial chapter of the Custody of the Holy Land was solemnly opened at Gethsemane on Monday, July first, the feast of the Most Precious Blood.
Over the last two weeks some fifty capitular friars from the many far-reaching parts of the Custody who had been chosen by all the friars of the province have been meeting daily in alternating plenary sessions and work groups.
The chapter began with reading and discussing the written reports from the Custody’s various commissions and services. In the light of these reports and discussions and following the orientations desired by the Custos, Fra Pierbattista Pizzaballa, who was confirmed in his position by Pope Francis on June 28, the chapter will decide on the Custody’s activities for the coming years. The friars will also elect the Custodial Vicar and Discretorium, a sort of administrative council that meets monthly.
As this chapter is taking place in the Year of Faith, its logo and motto are “Siate saldi nella fede” (“be strong in faith”). It is upon this faith that the Visitator General, Fra Renato Beretta, invited the friars to stand when making their choices. Faith will guide them in the certainty that the Holy Spirit, the real minister general of the Order (2Cel 193), will guide them and will raise up “prophets of change”.
Alongside the chapter, the Custos of the Holy Land received Mr. Enrico Letta, president of the Italian Council, who is on a brief official visit of Israel and Palestine. That afternoon, Fra Stephane Milovitch, guardian of the Nativity, received him in Bethlehem.
The Custodial Chapter has a blog (click here) which will post a summary of each day’s activity in Italian.
We wish the chapter fruitful work for the pursuit of the Custody’s mission in the Middle East.
Over the last two weeks some fifty capitular friars from the many far-reaching parts of the Custody who had been chosen by all the friars of the province have been meeting daily in alternating plenary sessions and work groups.
The chapter began with reading and discussing the written reports from the Custody’s various commissions and services. In the light of these reports and discussions and following the orientations desired by the Custos, Fra Pierbattista Pizzaballa, who was confirmed in his position by Pope Francis on June 28, the chapter will decide on the Custody’s activities for the coming years. The friars will also elect the Custodial Vicar and Discretorium, a sort of administrative council that meets monthly.
As this chapter is taking place in the Year of Faith, its logo and motto are “Siate saldi nella fede” (“be strong in faith”). It is upon this faith that the Visitator General, Fra Renato Beretta, invited the friars to stand when making their choices. Faith will guide them in the certainty that the Holy Spirit, the real minister general of the Order (2Cel 193), will guide them and will raise up “prophets of change”.
Alongside the chapter, the Custos of the Holy Land received Mr. Enrico Letta, president of the Italian Council, who is on a brief official visit of Israel and Palestine. That afternoon, Fra Stephane Milovitch, guardian of the Nativity, received him in Bethlehem.
The Custodial Chapter has a blog (click here) which will post a summary of each day’s activity in Italian.
We wish the chapter fruitful work for the pursuit of the Custody’s mission in the Middle East.