Today, Firday 24th July, fifth and last day of our Provincial Chapter. We met at 4pm at the Franciscan Centre and the General Visitator, Br Jeffrey Scheeler, commenced our gathering with prayer. Br Ray Scicluna did the roll call and Br Walter Vassallo read the minutes and had them approved by a show of hands.
The proposals to be voted upon were announced. Br Mark Ciantar called for a time for reflection and the opportunity to be given a printed copy. No objection was found and after all the proposals were read 30 minutes break were given for the friars to ponder on the matter and those friars who wanted were given a printed copy of the proposals. A group photo was taken to commemorate our gathering.
We resumed our work at 5:00pm. Br Walter Vassallo presented two articles of the Particular Statutes which he proposed to renew. A slight modification was done, a secret vote was taken, and the proposal was approved. One by one the other eight proposals at hand were read out and a secret vote was taken. In all, seven proposals were approved affirmative, two were approved negative.
When the voting process was completed the General Visitator, Br Jeffrey Scheeler, made his final comments. Likewise Br Valmir Ramon, President of the Chapter and General Animator for Evangelisation made concluding comments.
Br Anthony Chircop, Minister General, thanked Br Jeffrey Scheeler, General Visitator, Br Valmir Ramos, Delegate of the Minister General and President of the Chapter and thanked all those involved the preparation and celebration of this Provincial Chapter. He described it as “a moment of grace”. “The Lord is instructing us”, he continued, “We have come here to learn. We have come to open our ears, to let the Lord speak to us.”
The Lord is also giving us a direction. Maybe we need to ask ourselves: why do I feel that I have lost a sense of direction? Who is leading me in my life? Where is God in my choices? And if each and every one of us, with all sincerity, will ask himself this question, then we can also be able to ask the same question as a provincial fraternity.
The Lord admonishes us. When Saint Francis speaks about the service that the minister should give to the brothers, he says that the minister is to visit them and admonish them with gentleness and meekness. May I be conscious of this serious duty.
God protects us. He keeps his eyes upon us. We are not alone. I ask you to listen once again to what the author of the Letter of the Hebrews tells us: “Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong” (Hebrews 12:12). Courage, brothers. God still loves us and He will protect us.
The Secretary read out the Final Document, which consisted mainly of the approved proposals, and it was passed round to be signed.
The Provincial Chapter came to an end at 7:30pm with the prayer of Vespers and the antiphone Salve Regina.
