The day started with the usual time for prayer.  As on previous days, the roll call was held followed by the reading of yesterday’s minutes. These were read and approved.  On this particular day, the main guest and speaker were: Dr. Joseph Ferriggi MD who spoke mainly on the role of the Franciscan Friar in the society we live in, with all its renovations and esigencies. On the other hand, Fr Francesco Antonelli OFM was to help us with the analysis and update of our ‘Particular statutes’ which make part of our established rules and which provide us with a policy that can be followed.

Dr. Ferriggi’s main points were based on a chat that he had had with Mgr. Mario Grech at the beginning of his pastoral ministry as Bishop of Gozo. This interaction was triggered off by a mutual need to discuss today’s world.  He gave a picture of society as it was viewed by the late Blessed Pope John Paul the second who, like Christ walked with and among men. Dr. Ferriggi spoke mainly of his experience and his vision of how society in Malta is deteriorating and the much needed action that unless we do not live and manifest our faith, materialism will take over and we will remain helpless in the sight of increasingly lack of proper social values, and moral principles. He stressed that we have to wake up from the lethargy where apathy is being taken for granted.

Dr. Ferriggi pointed out that respect and discipline in today’s society have lost their value both in the context of religiosity and ethically.  He adds that it seems that we too have given in to indisinterest and often inactivity.  He pointed out that the Franciscan Friar has to wake up and work to restore faith and be inspired to evangelise people – the same people that Christ cares about and has entrusted to us.  Our prayer should be consistent, reliable, and unswerving to overcome the spiritual crisis that is present in our society. He ended by saying that our main role in today’s society is to evangelise Christ and His teachings and not our own ideology.

A short break followed; after which we gathered again to discuss and update five of our statutes which were handled by Fr Antonelli OFM together with the whole assembly.

The session came to an end at 12.30pm