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On Wednesday, February 15, 2023, The Inter-Franciscan Commission for Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation held a meeting in General Curia of the Capuchins in Rome.

The Commission, which is called “Roman VI”, is composed of the representatives of the Franciscan family. The representatives are Br.Daniel Rodriguez Blanco, OFM and Br. Taucen Hotlan Girsang, OFM (new members), Fr. Joel de Jesus, OFMCap, Br. Michael Lasky, OFMConv, Sr. Nancy Celaschi, OSF and Pietro Ferri, OFS (new member).

Br. Joel de Jesus, OFMCap, as the chairperson of the Commission, opened the meeting and welcome the new members. He reinformed firstly the meeting’s agenda. He explained about the Commission such as its brief history, statement identity, structure, operational procedures, and the valuable collaboration with Franciscans International. He underlined the roles, the responsibilities, and the services of the Commission’s structure. He reminded that the Commission chairperson’s role is the contact person, the one who is responsible to prepare the agenda for the meetings, but he/she will be assisted by another member of the Commission as secretary.

Further, the Commission selected its new officers for the next two years. Br. Michael Lasky, OFMConv was elected as the new president of the Commission. And Sr. Nancy Celaschi, OSF will continue to serve as secretary.

After the election, the new president scheduled the date for the next meeting which will take place on February 24-26, 2023, in Assisi, with its agenda “A Convivial for Itinerary of Peace”.  

Then, Br. Benedict Ayodi, OFMCap and Br. Markus Heinz of the Franciscans International presented a matter of collaboration between “Roman VI” and Franciscans International in accordance with Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). In responds, all members agreed that there is still a need to look for new forms of concrete collaboration. To close the meeting, the members of the Commission were invited fraternally to have lunch together by Capuchin’s friars.

Br. Taucen Girsang