Course for Capuchin Archivists, Librarians and Museum Workers 2023

The 2023 Training Course for Archivists, Librarians and Capuchin Museum Staff Members, organized by the Capuchin Central Library and the Capuchin General Archives with the collaboration of the Franciscan Museum, took place Oct. 23-28, 2023, at the central office on the campus of the International College of St. Lawrence of Brindisi in Rome.

The title chosen for this year was "Capuchin Libraries Archives and Museums, Witnesses and Instruments of the Prophetic Presence of the Order in the Mission of the Church". In six days, we registered 41 participants from Capuchin circumscriptions in 8 countries (Brazil, Chile, Germany, India, Italy, Malta, United States, Switzerland). Among them was the General Councilor for the CCB, Br. Silvio do Socorro de Almeida Pereira.  The week of meetings included lectures, reports, guided tours and round table sessions, introduced and was moderated by the director of the Capuchin General Archives and Central Library, Dr. Patrizia Morelli. It included: a visit to the Capuchin Central Library and General Archives; a visit to the Franciscan Museum, led by the Museum Director, Br. Yohannes Teklemariam Bache; a visit to the Historical Archives of the Congregation of Propaganda Fide, led by the Director Msgr. Flavio Belluomini, during which it was also possible to visit the Archives' restoration workshop; a lecture by Msgr. Fabrizio Capanni, of the Pontifical Dicastery for Culture and Education, on the theme The Holy See and the Cultural Heritage of the Church; and a lecture by Br. Bernardo Nestor Molina Parra, Professor at the Institute of Spirituality of the Pontifical Antonianum University, on the genesis of the Regula Bullata and the event of Greccio, whose eight hundredth anniversary is being celebrated this year.

Particularly important and significant was a visit from the General Minister Br. Roberto Genuin, who came to the Collegio on the afternoon of October 24 to meet the participants and share about the Order's concern for Capuchin cultural assets, a living heritage to be preserved, handed down and enhanced for the precious witness it can offer to the history of the presence and prophetic apostolate of the Capuchin Friars in the mission of the Church, and in support of the integral spiritual and human formation for generations to come.

After the meeting, the General Minister joined with the group of course participants in a fraternal dinner. There was an atmosphere of friendly sharing and fraternity, an atmosphere which pervaded the entire week. The representatives of the various circumscriptions offered interesting and documented reports on their activities and state of affairs. This year, we appreciated the participation of friars and lay people from some circumscriptions in Brazil.

A very emotional moment was experienced on the evening of Oct. 27, when it was possible to participate in the Prayer for Peace with Pope Francis in St. Peter's Basilica together with all the participants of the Synod as well as with the many faithful from around the world.