Fraternal Session in CZĘSTOCHOWA

From October 11-16, 2021, a formation gathering was held in Częstochowa, Poland, under the protection of the Black Madonna. It brought together the General Council of our Capuchin Order, Provincial Ministers, Custodes, Delegates and some formators from the European continent. This event was entitled: The dream of fraternity. The main purpose was offered by our General Minister, Br Roberto Genuin, in his letter, writing among other things: "What is most important is that we seek, all together, adequate responses to what the Lord expects of us for the Europe of the future... so that the Order may be more significant".

Just as in the past St Francis wanted to respond with his own life to the situation of the world of his time, to the invitation of God and the Church, we too, the sons of St Francis, living in today's complex and diverse world, want to do the same. Enlightening for us were the wise words of Pope Francis, who said: "What we are living through is not simply an age of change, but a change of epoch. We are therefore in one of those moments in which changes are no longer linear, but epochal; they constitute choices that rapidly transform the way of living, of relating, of communicating and thinking, of relating between human generations and of understanding and living faith and science [...] We must initiate processes, rather than occupy spaces. God is manifested in time and is present in the processes of history. This gives priority to actions that generate new dynamics. And it requires patience, waiting. From this we are urged to read the signs of the times with the eyes of faith, so that the direction of this change awakens new and old questions with which it is right and necessary to be confronted".

We wanted to transform these words of the Pope our own, and they summarised the journey we experienced and made. It was a fraternal journey that wanted to see us united in knowing how to read the new challenges that the "old continent" proposes to us in order to live our Capuchin presence in a meaningful way. We wanted to feel urged to reawaken the Christian ardour that our Capuchin-Franciscan charism has within it and which can continue to be engaging and proactive for the future of Europe.

During these days, which were beautiful and intensive, we were able to pray together, even in the sanctuary of the Black Madonna, listened to what the Lord was saying to us, listened to different friars and various experts, heard the testimonies of friars who live our charism in different ways in the world, got to know each other and enrich each other. Especially the theme of the fraternities of St Lawrence and also of formation and various projects and initiatives that we could see during these days, led us in the end to believe, that despite all the problems, all the challenges and sufferings that deeply touch our daily lives, God willing, there is hope for us and for the future of our Order in Europe.

Fra Tomasz Protasiewicz OFMCap

Maestro del Noviziato Interprovinciale
della Provincia di Cracovia e Varsavia;

Delegato della conferenza CECOC
per il Consiglio Internazionale della Formazione