“ Formation is the development of the brothers and of fraternities in such a way that our life may daily more clearly conform to the holy gospel and the Franciscan spirit according to the needs of times and places. This formation must continue throughout our lives”.

These inspiring words from our Constitutions (n. 22,1-2), are at the root of all the commitment and activity of the General Department for Formation (GDF). In particular, it “should be at the service both of the general ministers and of the ministers in the various territories, giving them help and information so that they may promote everything that has to do with formation " (Const. 24,5) whether initial or ongoing. In the picture from L-R are the present internal staff members of the GDF: Brothers Patrick Crasta, Sergio M. Dal Moro, and Wieslaw Block.

The GDF aims to carry out its duties through specific initiatives, such as:

• By facilitating exchanges with and between the Conferences of the Order. There are two important moments in this connection: the presence of a member of the GDF at the assemblies of the various Conferences; attendance at the meeting of new major superiors, which is held every year in January.
• Enabling and facilitating the provinces and formation personnel. In particular, this happens when members of the GDF give updating courses, and meetings at various levels in the circumscriptions of the Order.
• Organizing formation courses for different categories (Guardians, formation personnel, animators, lay brothers, SFO assistants, etc.). This is a specific type of work, which is very demanding. The courses, given in different languages, usually last for about a month., - At the present time the GDF is involved in preparing the International Congress on the Post-novitiate, which will be helkd in September 2004.

The members of the GDF are:

Br. Giov. Battista Urso (Prov. Cosenza, Italia) -- external
Br. Sergio Marcello Dal Moro (Prov. Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil)
Br. Štefan Kožuh (Prov. Slovenia) -- external
Br. Patrick Crasta (Prov. Karnataka, India)
Br. Wieslaw Block (Prov. of Warsaw)
Br. Joseph Nacua, General Definitor, is the General Definitor accompanying the work of the Office.

The Headquarters of the GDF are at our friary in Frascati. Its members are part of the friary fraternity, under the responsibility of the Province of Warsaw. It is an international fraternity living a life of prayer, witness and hospitality offered to any friar wishing to come and enrich his formation through periods of reflection and prayer.

The part of the friary reserved for hospitality and the formation of the friars has been completely rebuilt. There are now 36 single rooms with bath, a large recreation room and a meeting hall.

Convento Cappuccini
V . Cardinal Massaia 26
00044 Frascati (Roma)

tel. +39 06-94286601
fax +39 06-94286688
E-Mail: ugf@ofmcap.org