VISITORS TO THE PROVINCE

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VISIT TO LONDON OF THE CUSTOS OF THE HOLY LAND

: The Custos of the Holy Land, Br Pierbattista Pizzaballa O.F.M., pictured during his visit to London (in the middle), with the Minister Provincial Br Michael Copps O.F.M. (to the left) and the Vice-Commissary of the Holy Land Br Raymond Hynes O.F.M. (to the right).

11/12 APRIL 2008

On Saturday 12 April 2008, in the crypt of St. Etheldreda’s Church, Ely Place, in the City of London Father Pizzaballa spoke to a multi-faith audience about the Franciscan role in supporting the Christian communities of the Holy Land since the Middle Ages. His visit was sponsored by the Terra Sancta Education Trust. This Trust is a registered charity established to support Christian children living in the Holy Land through educational projects, alleviation of poverty and promotion of respect and dialogue with other faith communities, allowing them to grow up in security and become a voice for peace in a troubled land.

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THE MINISTER GENERAL PAYS A FLYING VISIT

The Minister General of the Order, Fr Jose Rodriguez Carballo OFM, was due to pay a two-day visit to the Province on Thursday and Friday, 11-12 December 2008. In the event, this short time was further reduced by flight delays and cancellations, partly owing to snow at Gatwick which caused the airport to be closed for several hours. But once he had succeeded in reaching English soil, the programme of his visit ran smoothly and he, together with the English-Speaking General Definitor, Fr Finian McGinn OFM, had an enjoyable time. The friars of the Province provided a ceremony of the renewal of vows over which he presided on the Thursday evening in the Choir Chapel of the Church at Woodford Green. A series of readings reminded us of the origins of the Order and how the Rule of Saint Fancis came into being and this provided the context for us to re-affirm our steadfast will to remain faithful to our charism by "living the Gospel in the Church according to the form observed and proposed by St Francis".

: The Rule of St Francis is placed beside the Book of the Gospels

: The Guardian of Woodford, Br Austin Linus McCormack, reads a passage from the First Life of St Francis by Thomas of Celano

: The Minister General leads all the friars present in placing his hand on the Gospel and the Rule

: He is followed by all the friars down to the senior in the Province, Br Walter Hobson, who this year has reached seventy years of profession

: Br Jose offers a copy of the Rule in a pocket edition to everyone present

: After the ceremony the friars present gather around the Minister and Definitor General

The following day the Minister and Definitor General were taken to the Franciscan International Study Centre at Canterbury where the General presided at the end of term Mass and met many of the students.

In the afternoon he called in to our friary at Chilworth, the ancient novitiate of the Province, now the place for postulants to spend a year before they enter the novitiate.

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