Acta Ordinis Fratrum Minorum - OFM

310 AN. CXXIX – MAII-AUGUSTI 2010 – N. 2comune con il Ministro generale nel territoriodella Provincia slovacca, a Bratislava.Mentre si trovava nella Provincia della RepubblicaCeca il Ministro ha incontrato il nuovoArcivescovo di Praga, Mons. Dominik Duky,OP, e nella visita alla Provincia slovacca haincontrato l’Arcivescovo di Bratislava, Mons.Stanislav Zvolenský. I due appuntamenti hannoevidenziato la preziosità della presenza deiFrancescani nelle Chiese locali e per il serviziopastorale che svolgono nelle due Diocesi.In ambedue le Province il Ministro ha incontratotutti i Frati, i Guardiani, il Definitorioprovinciale e la Famiglia Francescana durantele solenni celebrazioni eucaristiche.Nella Provincia ceca di San Vinceslao, ilMinistro generale, oltre al convento di Pragadove si trova la sede della Curia provinciale,ha visitato altre Fraternità: quella di Plzen,detta “nuova presenza dei frati” tra la gente,e quella di Brno, dove si trova il postulandato.Qui fra qualche settimana incominceranno laloro formazione 4 nuovi candidati che la Provvidenzaha donato alla Provincia. Nella stessacittà di Brno si trova il monastero delle Clarisse,l’unico nella Repubblica Ceca, con 12 SorellePovere di Santa Chiara. Anche ad esse hafatto visita il Ministro generale, accompagnatodalle persone del seguito.Nella Provincia slovacca, oltre a Bratislava,sede del Ministro provinciale, il Generaleha visitato anche il convento di Trnava, casadi noviziato, dove si è svolto anche l’incontrocon i Frati della Provincia e con i Guardiani. Inquesto momento la Provincia del Ss.mo Salvatoreha sette Frati nella missione “ad gentes”;inoltre, ne ha offerto uno, Fr. Masseo PatrikGolha, per il progetto Sudan, dipendente dalMinistro generale.Fr. Ernest Siekierka6. Visit to the Province of the Immaculate Conceptionin the United States on the occasionof the 100 th Anniversary of the Erection ofthe ProvinceOn June 23 2010, Br. José RodriguezCarballo, OFM, Minister General, in the companyof Br. Francis Walter, OFM, DefinitorGeneral, joined the brothers of the ImmaculateConception Province in the United States forthe celebration of the 100 th anniversary of theerection of the Province.The founding group of four Italian Friarsarrived in the United States at the invitationof the Bishop John Timon of Buffalo in 1855.Under the leadership of Fr. Pamphilus ofMagliano, the brothers began to minister firstto the Irish immigrants and then to the Italianimmigrants who came in great numbers to theUnited States in the second half of the nineteenthcentury. The brothers engaged primarilyin parish ministry and also the founding ofSt. Bonaventure College, now a university, forthe formation of the young, and especially forthose who were called to the Franciscan lifeand also to the diocesan priesthood, along withothers centers of Christian formation and withthe Secular Franciscan Order. By 1861, withthe increase of the number of brothers, theCustody of the Immaculate Conception waserected. When their numbers increased due tothe arrival of more Friars from Italy and the receptionof native vocations, the Province wasestablished on December 25, 1910 .The solemn celebration of the anniversarytook place at St. Anthony of Padua Churchin New York City. Br José was the main celebrantof the Eucharist Liturgy, and he wasjoined by His Eminence, Cardinal OscarRodriguez Madariaga, SDB of Tegucigalpa(Honduras), affiliate of our Order, their Excellencies,Bishop Robert Camillieri, OFM ofComayagua (Honduras) and Bishop MaurusMuldoon, OFM of Olancho (Honduras), Br.Robert Campagna, OFM, Minister Provincial,Br. Francis Walter,OFM, Definitor General,five Minister Provincials of the United Statesand the Provincial of Malta. Also present wereabout 70 brothers and a large group of friendsand benefactors of the Province.In his address to the brothers, the MinisterGeneral reminded the Province of its glorioushistory, but also of a great history to stillbe accomplished. He called on the brothers tolook to the future with clarity, a vision of thefuture and evangelical boldness. “After havingbecome clearly aware of the present situation,after having a thorough vision of the future,boldness is necessary. Without boldness andcourage, without daring, the waters will remainat a standstill with the risk that in a short timethey will become contaminated. In this senseI recall the principle that is very clear for me:he who moves can make a mistake, but he whohas not moved has already made a mistake.”The celebration continued with a dinnershared by all in a spirit of joy and fraternity in