The Closing Eucharistic celebration of the General Chapter 2021, with Brother Massimo Fusarelli as Presider and Brothers Isauro Covili Linfati and Cesare Vaiani as Principal Concelebrants, was celebration of gratitude, frater, diversity, and Hope.
The variety of the official languages of the Order, as well as additional languages, were used in prayer and in song. Before final blessing, Capitulars were given gifts of clay lamps, modelled after ancient oil lamps found in the Roman Catacombs, as a reminder of the scripture passage of the Chapter, “Arise… and Christ will give you Light!” (Ep 5:14).
The Chapter concluded with expressions of gratitude from the new Minister General and Brother Sergio Galdi D’Aragona, the General Chapter Secretary, to all who have been a part of this Chapter, to the past leadership of our Order, and to all who have assisted and helped to make the Chapter possible in the challenging situations of our world. Special words of thanks were expressed to those who supported the Chapter and the Order behind the scenes with their hard work, prayers, and good wishes, including the Poor Clare and other religious sisters and brothers, and secular collaborators and friends.
A moment of silence was observed for the Second Vice Secretary, the late Brother Dexter Toledo of the Philippines Province, who tragically passed away just a few months before the Chapter began.
Brother Massimo concluded with an encouragement for all brothers to remain in a spirit of ongoing fraternal dialogue and mutual support. Exhortation to live the Gospel of Jesus, which is the core of our charism, with passion in our lives.
In doing so, to bear witness to the world.
On Sunday afternoon, the new Minister General and Vicar General will make a pilgrimage to Assisi, to entrust to Order to the Lord, through the intercessions of Holy Mary of the Angels, St Francis and St Clare, prior to the commencement of meetings during the coming week at the Order’s General Curia in Rome.
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