The friars of the Custody of Saint John the Baptist in Puerto Rico wrapped up their triennial Chapter of the brothers on Friday, February 14 at Centro Capuchino in San Juan. The friars in each jurisdiction of us Capuchins gather every three years to choose the brothers who will minister the Province or Custody and animate our life in the Gospel.
This year's theme was Wake Up, Integrate, Begin Again and Pass on our Charism. Each day the friars began with a half-hour reflection offered by a Religious Sister or a female Secular Franciscan. The friars made a deliberate decision to invite a woman each day to animate the day’s theme.
In the voting for leadership on Wednesday, February 12, our brother Ramón Negrón Cruz, OFM Cap. (center) was elected Custos. He had previously been appointed to finish the term of José Ángel Torres, OFM Cap., after José's election as Vicar General of the Capuchin Order in 2018. José Antonio Cruz (r) and Luis González (l) were elected, respectively, as the first and second councilors.
Br. José Antonio gave a moving Power Point presentation on the history of our Capuchin presence in Puerto Rico. Our conferes of the St. Augustine Province, who first went to serve the people of Puerto Rico almost 70 years ago, animated the construction of an astonishing number of chapels and schools! The friars still have a huge impact on Puerto Rico's Catholic presence on the island.
Other topics discussed during the week included issues of our Peace, Justice and the Integrity of Creation work. As some Puerto Rican friars advance in age, the Custody recognizes also that care for the sick or weakening brothers warrants serious attention and consideration.
Our Provincial Minister, Tom Betz, OFM Cap., reported that, through it all, there has been "a lovely spirit of prayer and fraternity. The music at Mass has been excellent. Because of the presence of three novices from the Dominican Republic and one friar from Haiti, the Custody has a notable youthfulness. There are Puerto Rican vocations to our way of life, and the friars hope to attract still others. There is great reason for hope in Capuchin Puerto Rico."
Below are various photos of the meeting and the elections . . .
The new Minister ("Custos"), Ramón Negrón Cruz, OFM Cap., center, is flanked by our Capuchin Vicar General (and former Custos of Puerto Rico) José Ángel Torres, OFM Cap., from Rome (on his left), and our Provincial Minister Tom Betz, OFM Cap., who presided at the Chapter (on his right). On the far left and far right are Luis González, OFM Cap., second councilor & José Antonio Cruz, OFM Cap., first councilor.