From Monday 10 till Friday 14 June we, the Maltese Capuchin Friars, held our sixty-seventh Provincial Chapter. The latter was successfully presided by the French Capuchin and General Definitor, Bro Pio Murat OFM Cap, who was representing Bro Mauro Jöhri OFM Cap, the actual General Minister. The venue chosen for such an important provincial event, as the Provincial Chapter certainly is, was the Archbishop’s Seminary. My heartfelt thanks go to the rector, seminarians and the staff for their outstanding hospitality given to us capitulars.
After the various reports being presented, including that of the late Provincial Minister, Bro Dominic Mangani OFM Cap, I was really touched by the splendid apostolate which Bro Joseph Giuliano OFM Cap, Bro Godfrey Zarb and Bro Ivan Scicluna OFM Cap are silently but effectively carrying out in the vocational sector. What immediately strikes a chord is the fact that this important and delicate field of apostolate is not done individually but fraternally. Fraternity plays an essential role in being and living as a Capuchin. Thus, keeping this important principle in mind the three friars kicked off their vocational work by holding a retreat together at the beginning of the past triennium so that they could know each other more. Furthermore, as a result of their prayer, sharing, study and planning, God’s grace helped them shaping an excellent plan that attracted the attention of many youths.
The first thing I liked about these friars is that they thought big from the start. They purposely chose as the backbone of their retreat the miraculous catch account that is recounted by the evangelist Luke in chapter 5 verses 1 to 11. What they essentially did was to go deeper into it and let its spirit direct their vocational mission. The key verse which accompanied them throughout their three-day retreat was Jesus’ command to Simon Peter: “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch" (Luke 5:4). What a striking contrast to Simon Peter’s experience of toiling all night and taking nothing! (see Luke 5:5).
Deeply charged by such a moving text the three friars immediately recognized that for their vocational work to bear fruit outreach was a must. That is what they did. They continued the monthly vocational meetings for teenagers (under 16) at our Kalkara friary. Moreover they strengthened the discerning vocational group called “Emmaus”. This vocational group, which meets twice a month, aims at helping intensely those who are seriously feeling the call for the Capuchin way of life.
In this group the Lectio Divina, or rather the meditative-applicable reading of the Bible, is pivotal.
But these initiatives, together with the conventional monthly write-up on vocations in the monthly Maltese Capuchin Magazine, “Dawl Frangiskan”, were the main vocational activities carried out in the previous triennium. The new vocational fraternity, as I would like to call it, thought much bigger. Two innovative initiatives which the Capuchin vocational team has done and is determined to keep on doing are its pastoral service at the MCAST as well as the spiritual assistance in certain Youth Centres.
At the MCAST our hardworking friars are giving a sound Christian formation to the youth by visiting the classrooms and spend some 10 to
15 minutes talking about a Christian theme. One friar remarked that the youths become so interested in what is being said that sometimes sessions prolonged to 40 minutes or more! Every month a group of MCAST students go to our Kalkara friary and spend a half-day there, which mainly consists of prayer, socialization and recreational activities.
The friars also take part in the activities organized at the canteen such as billiards tournament, doughnut day and so forth. Besides contributing in the Lenten talks for teachers our brothers give their sacramental service by celebrating the Eucharist and hearing confessions. Finally the friars launched their MCAST apostolate by creating a Facebook webpage called “MCAST Chaplaincy”.
Regarding Youth Centres Bro Joseph Guiliano OFM Cap takes care of YLife Kalkara Youth Centre. The three friars have other vocational groups in St Julians, Marsaskala and GIFRA.
Have you ever thought to be a Capuchin? Go to Capuchin Flame Facebook page or capuchin-vocations.org
Fr Mario Attard OFM Cap
San Gwann