Minister General visits Bicol Mission

By Myrna S. Bermudo

Rev. Fr. Immacolato Ma. Acquali, FI, Minister General of the Franciscans Friars of the Immaculate, was in Naga on October 5-8 for a canonical visit of their Bicol mission and other Philippine missions.

DWRV 98.3 FM, Radio Caritas Mariae (RCM)The Mother’s Touch, is the media apostolate of the Franciscans of the Immaculate-Bicol Mission.

The minister general is the head of the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate worldwide.

Asked on the role of the minister general, Fr. Acquali said: “It is to serve the aim of the institute, which is the sanctification of its members, and in our case, the missionary activities all around the world. The main purpose of a minister general is to oversee that the mission is carried on properly. So it’s not like to command. It is to help the friars to stay together, stay united, and work together in the mission of this religious family.”

The RCM management and staff had an encounter with the Minister General as he listened to testimonies on the relevance of the Franciscan Media Apostolate in today’s world. He assured them that the General Council will fully support RCM’s more than 25-year-old media apostolate.

Rev. Fr. Immacolato Ma. Acquali, FI, (seated) Minister General of the Franciscans of the Immaculate is joined by (from left to right) Rev. Fr. Giuseppe Ma. Ortiz, FI, Vicar, Philippine Delegation; Rev. Fr. Januarius Ma. Tindoy, FI, Delegate Superior, Philippine Delegation; Fr. Immacolato, Minister General, Rev. Fr. Conrad Ma. Flores, FI, Local Superior, FFI Naga Community, and Fra Francisco Ma. Olofernes, FI, operations manager of DWRV 98.3 FM. The Minister General was in Naga, October 5-8, for a canonical visit of their Bicol mission and other Philippine missions. Radio Caritas Mariae (RCM) 98.3 FM since 1995 is the media apostolate of the Franciscans of the Immaculate-Bicol Mission. Photo credit: Radio Caritas Mariae

Fr. Aquali came together with Rev. Fr. Giuseppe Ma. Ortiz, FI, Vicar, Philippine Delegation and Rev. Fr. Januarius Ma. Tindoy, FI, Delegate Superior, Philippine Delegation. They were welcomed by Rev. Fr. Conrad Ma. Flores, FI, Local Superior of the FFI Naga Community.

Aside from the Bicol Mission, the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate has missions in Novaliches, Quezon City, Pampanga, Cebu, Bukidnon and Cagayan de Oro.

Fr. Acquali said that a canonical visit is a way to check out things to carry on in the comnmunities, how the friars’ life in the community – the potentials and talents. He said human contact is important today. We need to talk to each other, giving formations, to know and make sure that things are going the right direction, he added.

“This is one of the responsibilities of a minister general - to visit the different countries where the friars are present, particularly here in the Philippines. The visit aims to bring the message of hope, of collaboration, cooperation, because as the minister general, it is important for me to stay in contact with every formation in every mission around the world.”

After the minister general’s visit in the Philippines, he is looking forward to gather more information through his personal encounters in the different mission areas. Through dialogue, other religious communities will be able to cooperate in order to solve problems in apostolic activities.

Fr. Acquali was interviewed at DWRV 98.3 FM by John Michael Lanon, one the RCM staff.