Dear Brothers,
Peace to all!
The General Council, after an initial period of settling in at the beginning of this term, from January 2025 began to look at the fraternity of the Curia considering the needs of the various offices, and the assignments of the brothers to date.
We now present the new assignments that have been initiated and are in the process of being completed. The turnover process sometimes requires prolonged periods of time both because of details related to the office or service, and because of the preparation of those called to the General Curia (e.g., the study of the Italian language and other matters). The first half of 2025 saw an intense movement of friars and assignments, which entailed – and is still requiring – the cooperation and support of everyone, and a good deal of flexibility for the constantly changing community. Here are the changes.
- In the month of January 2025, the local economo (bursar) of the fraternity of the General Curia changed hands from Br. Arturo Nevastri of the Province of Central Italy to Br. Bonifas Francis Lopes of the Province of Maharashtra, India, who has been in collaboration with the Province of Central Italy for many years (his previous fraternity was in Assisi, having the care of the Domus Laetitiae). Br. Arturo had arrived at the Curia on April 1, 2023, and rejoined the fraternity of San Lorenzo al Verano (Rome) on February 20, 2025.
- Clézio Menezes dos Santos of the Province of Central Brazil arrived at the General Curia on January 29 to replace Br. Leonardo Ariel Gonzales Ruilópez (elected provincial councilor on Oct. 17, 2024) as Delegate of the General Minister for Assistance to Capuchin Poor Clares and Institutes Aggregated to the Order. Br. Leonardo returned to the Province of Argentina on March 1, 2025, after ten years of service in the General Curia (he had arrived at the Curia on November 2, 2014). He will continue to accompany the process of renewing the Constitutions of the Capuchin Poor Clares.
- On January 30 arrived Br. Abera Makebo Lorato of the Province of Ethiopia, joining the General Secretariat of Formation. As of July 15, 2025, Br. Abera assumed the office of General Secretary of Formation.
- On February 1, Br. Yustinus Saragih arrived from the Province of Medan, Indonesia, to assume the service of General Bursar and Secretary of the Office of Economic Solidarity, succeeding Br. Justino Sánchez Durán, who will return to his circumscription, the Custody of Mexico and Texas, in mid-July (he had arrived at the General Curia on June 1, 2021).
- On March 3, Br. Antony Joseph Galipothu arrived from the Province of Andhra Pradesh-Orissa, India, to take over the Office of Statistics, succeeding Br. Suresh Majhi, who left Rome on June 30 to return to his circumscription, the Province of St. Fidelis North India. Br. Suresh has held roles in the Office of Solidarity and, since 2022, was in charge of the Office of Statistics; he had arrived at the Curia on August 28, 2019.
- In mid-July, Br. Waldheim Rodrigues from the Province of Goa, India, is still expected to assume the role of Vice General Secretary of Formation; he has most recently been active as spiritual animator at our Collegio of St. Lawrence of Brindisi here in Rome. Br. Charles Alphonse will assist with the transition of Br. Abera and Br. Waldheim until at least fall 2025.
- Within the Formation Secretariat we report that Br. Jaime Rey, who had been elected councilor in the Chapter of his Province of Spain on April 27, 2023, has gradually thinned out his work in the Formation Secretariat while intensifying his presence in the Province. For Br. Charles and Br. Jaime, who had both arrived at the Curia in February 2013, we expect to say our farewells in the coming fall.
To all of the brothers who have concluded their service we extend a heartfelt and profound “thank you” from the entire Curia community, but, even more so from the entire Order for their service on behalf of our one great fraternity, spread over more than 110 countries. We wish the newcomers fruitful service, certain that they will succeed in helping the Order to advance well, according to the guidelines that the General Minister and Council have outlined in his initial letter of the sexennium 2024-2030.
Thanks to all the brothers of the Order for the support you give to the offices of the General Curia.
The Secretary General