Saturday, April 5, 2014

Meeting with 4 Presidents of European Conferences



 The spring is here in Curia. Our lovely plant with full of white flowers.
Br. Charles serves as a translator to Br. Adrian. He is too good! God bless him.

The morning we began the meeting with four presidents of four European conferences to discuss about the Internation Fraternities in Europe. All four presidents are present for the meeting. They were welcomed by the General Minister and also were thanked for their presence for the meeting. The General Minister delievered a very important key note address as why were organising a meeting of all the European provincials in December 2014 at Fatima, Portugal. He gave a very interesting background of Capuchin presence and their role in Europe. He highlighted that the Great development in Europe around 800 years ago brought about great changes in Europe regarding life either religious or lay.The ecclesiastical institutions also began to change. Secularization and modernization became two key words that influenced the life of majority. The changes affected every sphere of religious life especially the fall in vocations Today there Less vocations, old age, catholics are frequenting less and less to Church and sacraments.
The Order feels the need of collaborations and cooperation on international level.The move to unite the provinces in Europe is a need today. The Central administration is thinking of unification, federation of the provinces. The need of reflecting on the Structural changes in Europe.  The Church has invited all to begin working on New  projects of evangelization in Europe. As an Order which is known for evangelization need sto contribute towards this new evangelization.
Then the General Minister proposed some few question likfe: What ways we can follow to create International fraternities, there are some provinces who have called and invited to create these structures like France, Spain, Ireland and Belgium, Germany and Austria
How to create a favorable climate? The Capuchin in general does not to change but wants to be tranquil and be in a comfort zone. It is a new challenge how shall we face?
How to prepare these brothers for these challenges? Many projects failed because we were not prepared, we need to prepare right from postulancy and speak to them about these International fraternities. They should be informed about multi-cultural realities and backgrounds. It is fundamental. Our contribution towards evangelization should be as a fraternity.
How to involve the provinces and good friars?
On whom these international fraternities will depend? On the province of the area or depend directly on the general Minister

No comments: