“I can’t believe I can understand what has been shared in Spanish!” This was my revelation when I was at a table of OFM friars, Franciscan Sisters and Secular Franciscans during the Chapter of Mats.
In the first two weeks of June 2025, more than 100 friars, sisters and seculars gathered in Assisi at Domus Pacis Hotel, next to the Basilica of St Mary of the Angels, for our Chapter of Mats – the mid-term review of the six-year term of our global leadership.
The Chapter of Mats dates back to the time of St Francis. On 30 May 1221, more than 5,000 friars from all over the world gathered around the little chapel of Our Lady of the Angels of the Porziuncola. In the surrounding fields were mats brought by the friars and hence it was called the “Chapter of Mats”.
In 2025, again brothers and sisters of the Franciscan family gathered from all over the world. Our Franciscan leadership had wanted the synodal path promoted by the late Pope Francis, hence conversations were first done at the local community level on three fundamental nuclei: Charism, Communion and Mission. It was not only friars evaluating our own life and mission; we also actively engaged sisters and seculars in our review.
I represented SAAOC (South Asia, Australia and Oceania Conference) and presented the summary of the discussions from our 12 entities. The SAAOC is one of 13 conferences around the world, and each was represented by four friars, two sisters and three seculars.
We spent three intense days conversing on the nuclei. The method used was the World Café where we sat at tables of up to eight people, with the facilitator and the scribe assigned to the table. We switched tables for three rounds, regardless of language. In each round, we enriched the conversation by recounting what we had heard at our previous tables. I was impressed by how authentically and boldly everyone spoke.
After the Chapter of Mats, I represented SAAOC at the Plenary Council of the Order where resolutions were made for proposals for the General Chapter 2027. It was a privilege to hear the situations and wonderful work done by friars in the global arena.
From Assisi I went to Manila for the two-week in-person training for the second run of the Asian Franciscan Formators Training (AFFT). We have 14 participants from seven countries.
The programme has been refined with feedback from our first batch to make it more robust and relevant for our formators. My gratitude to those who have supported this initiative, and I appeal for your continued generosity. Most of our participants are from developing countries and the course fees are kept low to encourage wider participation. Donations can be made to our UEN listed in the donation slip, with the Ref: AFFT.
On coming back to Singapore, I was soon immersed in our Custody Assembly held in Johor Bahru. It was a time for the friars in our Custody of St Anthony (Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei) to evaluate and discern our life and mission, in preparation for our Elective Chapter in September. For me, there was a sense of brotherly support and willingness to listen to one another as we journey together towards a more authentic Franciscan life and more effective mission. Our facilitator Aaron Maniam shares his experience in the Feature Article.
As I am writing this, I am helping another Franciscan entity in Asia with its Elective Chapter as Visitator General.
Yes, I am in back-to-back meetings, but this accompaniment of individuals and entities is life-giving for me. Often I encounter the inner world of a person which for me is a sacred and privileged moment, and I recognise that it is there that God dwells and works. This work gives me hope and strength for my own Franciscan journey. May the Lord give you the strength, wisdom and grace to keep walking yours. Amen!
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