Today in Bethlehem the Chapter of the Friars Minor of the Custody of the Holy Land began. The initial meeting began at 5:00 p.m. in order to allow all of the participants to be present at the opening ceremony.
While Veni Creator Spiritus was sung, the Book of the Gospels was carried in procession by the Custos, Fr. Pierbattista Pizzaballa, into the hall prepared for the Chapter in the presence of all the chapter members, in order to highlight the spirit with which the Chapter must be conducted.
Then portions were read from the Gospel of Matthew and from the Rule of St. Francis that highlight the sense of our life in fraternity. The prayer concluded with the recitation of a Franciscan prayer and with the hymn Salve Sancte Pater.
The opening session continued with taking role of all the chapter members. The Father Custos in his initial greetings invited all present to seek the face of the Lord in order to verify our walk in the past three years by referring to the Word of God. Father Pierbattista exhorted us to be creative and courageous in order to be able to integrate the old things with the new things, and to ameliorate our ways.
Afterwards the Secretary of the Chapter, Fr. Carlo Serri, presented to the chapter members the daily schedule and the various commissions, which were subsequently unanimously approved. Some clarifications about the program were given and some appointments were indicated, among which included the inauguration of the sports center of Bethlehem, the excursion to the Herodion, the visit of the Apostolic Nunzio, and the feast of Corpus Christi (the Body of Christ).
A significant moment of the evening was the reading of the message that His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, sent to all the participants of the Chapter, in order to encourage the work for an ever more productive mission in the Holy Land. The Chapter then proceeded to nominate three vote counters, Fr. E. Sanchez, Fr. R. Sidawi, and Fr. B. Varriano Ferreira, and three moderators were elected who will form a part of president’s advisory body. The moderators elected were Fr. M. Piccirillo, Fr. D. Jaeger, and Fr. Dobromir Jasztal. At the conclusion of the day the Friars gathered in the Church of Saint Catherine to celebrate Vespers.
While Veni Creator Spiritus was sung, the Book of the Gospels was carried in procession by the Custos, Fr. Pierbattista Pizzaballa, into the hall prepared for the Chapter in the presence of all the chapter members, in order to highlight the spirit with which the Chapter must be conducted.
Then portions were read from the Gospel of Matthew and from the Rule of St. Francis that highlight the sense of our life in fraternity. The prayer concluded with the recitation of a Franciscan prayer and with the hymn Salve Sancte Pater.
The opening session continued with taking role of all the chapter members. The Father Custos in his initial greetings invited all present to seek the face of the Lord in order to verify our walk in the past three years by referring to the Word of God. Father Pierbattista exhorted us to be creative and courageous in order to be able to integrate the old things with the new things, and to ameliorate our ways.
Afterwards the Secretary of the Chapter, Fr. Carlo Serri, presented to the chapter members the daily schedule and the various commissions, which were subsequently unanimously approved. Some clarifications about the program were given and some appointments were indicated, among which included the inauguration of the sports center of Bethlehem, the excursion to the Herodion, the visit of the Apostolic Nunzio, and the feast of Corpus Christi (the Body of Christ).
A significant moment of the evening was the reading of the message that His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, sent to all the participants of the Chapter, in order to encourage the work for an ever more productive mission in the Holy Land. The Chapter then proceeded to nominate three vote counters, Fr. E. Sanchez, Fr. R. Sidawi, and Fr. B. Varriano Ferreira, and three moderators were elected who will form a part of president’s advisory body. The moderators elected were Fr. M. Piccirillo, Fr. D. Jaeger, and Fr. Dobromir Jasztal. At the conclusion of the day the Friars gathered in the Church of Saint Catherine to celebrate Vespers.