September 17

At the mountain of La Verna, we were received with enchantment and there we attended with the people the Mass in the Basilica of the Sanctuary at 11.00 presided by Fr. José Rodriguez Carballo the Minister General of the Franciscan Friar who greeted us cordially and prayed for our General Chapter. After lunch Fray José shared with us in a very fraternal and familiar way.

 It was an intense day at spiritual level; we were able to experience God at the places where St. Francis use to pray with his brothers. At 3.00 in the afternoon we participated to the Mid Afternoon Prayer during which the relics of St. Francis was transferred to the exact place where the event of imprint of the Stigmata happened. We share with you all our sisters, the message of the homily of Fray. José inviting that remembrance of the experience of love between the crucified Christ and St. Francis remain alive among us.

Also, during this day we unite with all of you in prayers the happiness in the entire Congregation and with the family of Sr. Inés Arango, for having reached the final stage of Diocesan Cause for Martyrdom of our dear Mons. Alejandro Labaka and Sr. Inés Arango. It was presented by Mons. Jesús Esteban Sádaba, Apostolic Vicar of Aguarico Ecuador.

In this day, we thanked God for the life offering of our brother Martyrs Vicente Cabanes and Company for their testimony that invites us to live in fidelity and prophecy. It was a significant moment of offertory in that which the multicultural richness of the Chapter, represented by one sister from each continent made us remember the martyrs for Asia, Africa, Europe and America.

The day was illumined by the Guest Speaker Fray Carlos Novoa, General Definitor of the Capuchin Friar Minor. During the day he exposed the theme of “One Charismatic Identity as an evangelizing force”, with a well marked Evangelical and Franciscan spirit taken from the following points:

1. The phenomena of globalization and post modernity, Opportunity or Danger?
2. The evangelical counsel: Obedience, Poverty and Chastity, expression of consecrated identity at the service of the Kingdom.
3. Essential values of our Franciscan-amigonian charismatic identity.
4. The evangelical fraternity of Francis of Assisi.
5. Co-ordinates of Franciscan charism

Once again, we, all the sisters participating in the General Chapter, express our gratitude to all of you: Lay people, Lay collaborators, Sisters of different communities for the messages you are sending from four continents; there is no doubt that your prayers are sustaining us.