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The Europe Project in Lourdes

Featured The Europe Project in Lourdes

Lourdes. A gathering of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin for the fraternities of the ‘Europe Project’ was held from July 21 to 25, 2017 in the shadow of the Massabielle grotto in Lourdes, France. The Project looks to re-implant the Order in the countries of central and northern Europe.

Video – Progetto Eurpoa presetazione in italianoe francese

It was a meeting in which fraternal experiences of the Project were shared. Now ongoing for some years, which is being promoted with enthusiasm thanks to the vision of the General Minister of the Order, Br. Mauro Jöhri, and the faithful, industrious, and charismatic accompaniment of the General Councilor – Delegate for the Project and President of the ad hoc Commission, Br. Pio Murat.

During this fraternal encounter, the Commission met with friars to encourage an exchange of experiences with the various representatives of the fraternities that are part of the Project and already established in Europe, namely Clermont-Ferrand and Lourdes (France), Kilkenny (Ireland), Antwerp (Belgium), and Spello (Italy). In an atmosphere of sharing lived experiences, marked by frankness and gospel simplicity, the Commission brought into relief how these fraternities make up a true ‘network of the charism’ within the Order, not in order to be something different, but toward the end of giving new life-blood to the charism that the Spirit has entrusted to us.

During the meeting, on the morning of Monday, July 24, the Bishop of Tarbes et Lourdes, Most Rev. Nicolas Brouwet, in the celebration of Holy Mass in the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, officially welcomed the new Europe Project Fraternity that has been set up for some months now at Lourdes. In his homily, the Bishop emphasized gospel brotherhood lived in poverty and minority as the proprium of the life and apostolate of the Capuchins, and asked the friars to bring this particular characteristic of ours to the service of welcoming pilgrims to the Lourdes Shrine.

At the end of the Mass the Bishop blessed the three brothers who began this new foundation with a special blessing, as a sign of happy welcome. Such blessing comes together with the singular circumstance of being present also with the witness of holiness of two friars, both associated with Lourdes, whose causes for beatification are proceeding: Venerable Giacomo of Balduina (1900-1948), who died at Lourdes and is buried there, and Servant of God Marie Antoine de Lavaur (1855-1907), who was the great apostle and organizer of the procession aux flambeaux at the Lourdes Shrine.

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Last modified on Monday, 28 August 2017 16:23