acta ordinis fratrum minorum - OFM

A07nterno:ACTAORDINIS 16/5/07 16:37 Page 177AD CHRONICAM ORDINIS 177personas que colaboran directamente con loshermanos en los diversos campos de la administracióny de la pastoral.Un momento muy emotivo se dio al finaldel ápage fraterno cuando, luego de las palabrasde agradecimiento del Ministro general,Fr. Walter Heras invitó a todos los hermanosa ponerse de rodillas para recibir la bendicióndel seráfico padre y hermano Francisco.Un gestó que realmente conmovió de emocióna más un hermano y hermana.La visita concluyó con las palabras deagradecimiento al Ministro general por supresencia y su mensaje siempre iluminadory motivador, tanto por parte del hermanoGuardián, Fr. Mario L. Ortega, como de Fr.Walter Heras, Ministro provincial.LUIS CABRERA, OFM12. Visit to the Province of the NetherlandsAmsterdam, 27-30.03.2007The Minister General, Fr. José R. Carballo,and the Definitor, Fr. Jakab Várnai,visited the Province of the Holy Martyrs ofGorkum in the Netherlands from the 27th to30th of March 2007.They were received at Amsterdam Airportby the Minister Provincial, Jan van denEijnden, and by the Vicar Provincial, FransGerritsma, and taken by car to the communityof Derkinderenstraat. The two communitiesof Amsterdam came together for anopening session at 15.30, during which theMinister Provincial presented the DutchProvince: a brief history, recent developments,statistics (in the past 40 years theirnumber fell from around 1,200 to 185) variouspresences and some of the projects. Aftera short discussion, the local project, the‘La Verna’Franciscan Center for Spirituality,was also presented: it offers about 80programmes yearly with a total of about1,200 participants, which is a good opportunityto propose basic elements of Franciscanspirituality, with a sensitivity to present-dayreligious demand.March 28th started with a Eucharist, thena visit to the city of Amsterdam, a boat tourof the canals, and a short visit to the friary atJodenbreestraat. After lunch the guests weretaken by car to Megen, the novitiate house.Three short sessions were held: about thepastoral programmes for the youth, about thestructure of formation in the Province, andabout the “process of reflection”, a successionof three-year programmes of fraternalcommunication which, since 1998, hashelped greatly to look into the situation of theprovincial fraternity and involve possiblyevery friar in the reflection. Evening prayerand supper were held at the Poor Clares inthe same town.The day of March 29th brought an intensiveprogramme which began by travellingfrom Megen to Delft. About 60 Friars fromall parts of the Province came together tomeet the Minister General in the Franciscanparish church. In his homily, he took theEmmaus story as a starting point to sharethe basic insights of the Extraordinary GeneralChapter with the Friars. He also expressedacknowledgement, in the name ofthe Order, of the rich missionary history ofthe Province, which led to the creation offive entities. A simple buffet service gaveopportunity for personal meeting beforeleaving for Weert, one of the three communitieswhere professional medical care canbe given to elderly Friars. After eveningprayer and supper with the community, thecommission for the care of elderly Friarspresented the efforts of the Province to providenot only physical care, but also spiritualaccompaniment to the elderly Friars. Theday ended with a journey to Utrecht.On March 30th, the guests celebrated theEucharist with the local fraternity, then metwith the Provincial Definitory. The MinisterGeneral appreciated the efforts of theProvince to open up ways towards the future.An open discussion followed to explorepossibilities of collaboration betweenthe Province and the General Curia. Duringthe car trip to Amsterdam Airport, a detourled the guests to admire the flourishingfields of tulips and hyacinths, the pride ofall Dutchmen...FR. JAKAB VÁRNAI