The two shall become one... ASSEMBLY 2008

The Conventual Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate Conception (IC) Province, USA, gave birth to the St. Anthony (SA) of Padua Province, USA, just over 102 years ago. Historically the IC Province served the pastoral needs of the German Speaking Catholics up and down the east coast. Since 1906 the friars of the SA Province have served the pastoral needs of the Polish Speaking Catholics in the same geographic region, often times over lapping (especially in places like Riverside and Trenton, NJ). For the past 40 years the friars of the IC and SA Provinces have studied together in the early years of Franciscan Formation, and in the seminary. And for the past 12 years we have worked even closer together in shared ministries, particularly formation and high school education, and more recently even our parishes.

The week of June 23 - 26, 2008, 183 friars of the IC and SA Province came together to talk about the next step. How do we best serve the needs of the Church and build up our fraternity as we age and membership is on the decline? After twelve years of courting and three years of intense investigation the friars joined in Assembly '08 voted overwhelmingly (86.5% in the affirmative) to advance the process for the two provinces to become one by the year 2014.

While the need to move on and become one could be seen as merely a manpower needs the reality is, we choose to come together so that we can continue to live a life of prayer, community and service, and continue by our words and by our actions to proclaim the Good News for many years to come.

Top picture: the Ministers Provincial with the Minister General (center)

Middle: The full assembly