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- Who
Are the Capuchins?
|
NewsCapuchin Friars meet in Armidale29 February 2004 100 Years since the death of Bishop Elzear Torreggiani OFM Cap“It is not usual to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the death of a bishop,… yet
it provides an excellent opportunity for us to review the pastoral ministry
of a bishop in the light of recent papal documents.”
Bishop Matthys hosted the Capuchin from the 16th to the 20th of February 2004 as over 33 friars and three postulants came together in Armidale to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the death of the pioneer Capuchin Bishop Elzear Torreggiani. The Minister General Br John Correveau OFM Cap, gave a full day of conferences to the friars on Tuesday 17 th bringing them up to date on matters relating to the Order, at this present time, when the Capuchins are preparing for the Seventh Plenary Council of the Order in Assisi for the whole month of March. Br Joseph Nacua – Capuchin Definitor General was also present for the celebrations as also were two friars, Br Terzio Merli and Br Renato Lupi from the Marches of Ancona the home province in Italy of Torreggiani. Br Anthony McDowell, the Capuchin Provincial of England, where Torreggiani worked as a missionary in the mid 1800's, was also present. He congratulated the Diocese of Armidale and the friars of Australia for taking time to remember and celebrate the contribution of Bishop Torreggiani and the other pioneer friars to the district of New England, New South Wales .
On Tuesday evening Br Patrick Colbourne OFM Cap presented his book, on the life of Bishop Torreggiani, to a full house with people standing outside the room. Noting, that he had tried to keep to the obedience he was given five years previous to “stick to the facts and footnote carefully” Patrick explained how he had spend a great deal of time and energy researching the archives of the friars of the Marches in Italy, the archives of the friars in Holland and England as well as Armidale and the Mitchell Library in Sydney. He acknowledged the wonderful cooperation he had received from many archivists including the Ursline Sisters and the Sisters of St Joseph and so many others as well. Four Ursline Sisters came out from Germany to Celebrate with their sisters here the 100 Anniversary because it was Bishop Torreggiani who invited them to Australia . Following Patrick's presentation of the book the Superior of the Ursline Sisters shared with us some of the written memoirs that her sisters had of Bishop Torreggiani. In this way we had the unique privilege of seeing Torreggiani through their eyes as a kindly and affectionate fatherly figure with incredible energy and enthusiasm. When home he celebrated Mass for them each day in their convent chapel and gave them Benediction twice a week. After visiting other places he shared with them his experiences. He also, with missionary zeal, removed their enclosure so that they could teach and minister to the people. Such little incidences as the following from the sister chronicler gave us all the feeling that we were looking through a window at a very real way of life over 100 years ago. “I have knitted the bishop a pair of red socks for Christmas and I know mother superior has a present for him too, but she won't tell us what it is.” It was quite eerie and made the Bishop and the people of that time really come alive for all of us. After the presentations all who came for the presentation were invited to a cup of tea and food and had a chance to meet the friars. On Wednesday the friars and some of the sisters and lay people went by bus to visit the Patrician Brother's School then the Bishop's first house, followed by the Orphanage and the Cemetery where the bishop and almost all the friars are buried. There in the cemetery in front of the Mortuary Chapel built in honour of Br Francis Gatti, they held a prayer service for Bishop Torreggiani and the friars and sisters and the many parishioners from that time, who are buried together in the same area of the cemetery. Br Patrick made special note of the grave of Constable J.T. Clarke who arrested Hugh McCaffery, the man who tried to take the life of the bishop on Christmas day 1884. He noted that the policeman and his wife had two children who died as infants.
Br Anthony McDowell the Provincial of Britain led the prayer service and at the conclusion the Minister General Br John Corriveau placed flowers at the tomb of Bishop Torreggiani. After the cemetery service the group had a look through the Ursline convent. In the afternoon there was a Rosary in the park at the monument in commemoration of Br Francis Gatti who so carefully tendered many of the large trees that grace the area. In the evening Bishop Luc Matthys celebrated the Mass of thanksgiving for the life of Bishop Torreggaini in the Cathedral. He was joined by Bishop Joseph Oudeman OFM Cap from Brisbane, the second Capuchin Bishop in Australia and many of the priests of the diocese of Armidale together with the Br John Corriveau – Minister General and the friars. In his sermon the Bishop used the occasion to outline the role of a bishop as clarified in recent Papal documents saying that from what we know of him Bishop Torreggiani would certainly be in accord with present day attitudes and a good example to be followed in his ministry to the people. After Mass many gathered with the bishop and the friars for a light supper in the Torreggiani Room of the Cathedral complex of buildings. On Thursday morning the friars, as they did each day, celebrated the Divine Office in the Ursline sister's excellent chapel and after breakfast all departed for their different destinations. The Australian Provincial Br Julian Messina in thanking everyone the night before said that if we were in any doubt about the splendid heritage we Capuchins have in the Armidale diocese they have certainly been laid to rest. He thanked everyone for his or her contribution to a wonderful celebration. Recent News Items
2003
2002 |
Copyright © 2000-2004 Capuchin Franciscan Friars of Australia. All rights
reserved. 
