What's new with the Capuchins?
On the feast of the Ascension of the Holy Spirit (June 8), Brother Peter set off to the Salesians in České Budějovice to hold a spiritual retreat for the local community. This resulted in pleasant "intersections" of Franciscan and Salesian spirituality. The following day, our monastery hosted a two-day meeting of the provincial council. After the meeting, we joined an excursion to Klatovy (where Father Marek Hric graciously welcomed us) and to Plánice (where we visited Father Pavel Vrbenský). We couldn't miss Nicov either. And Brother Francis brought his trumpet along.
A significant event occurred on Thursday, June 12, when restorer Josef Novotný handed over the work of several months, including that of his team: the church of St. Felix has now been restored and its paintings renewed, as well as a complete repainting. Almost immediately, the dismantling of scaffolding and the first phase of cleaning began. This was followed by a volunteer day on Friday, June 20. We greatly appreciate the help of all parishioners who cleaned St. Felix. We are also grateful for the financial support sent, without which this entire work could not have been realized. Currently, Mr. Jiří Stýblo is still taking care of the pulpit, and we look forward to the restoration of the inlays.
On Friday, June 13, our community was represented at the celebration of ten years of episcopal service by Bishop Vlastimil. Brother Samuel and Peter set off to České Budějovice, and they also took Father Václav Salák with them. The event was generously organized, with plenty of attendees and refreshments. It was also an extraordinary opportunity to meet with others not just within the diocese. We could also enjoy the singing of the seminary band. However, a beautiful, truly sensational announcement came from Benešov, where the Czech Republic championships in the combined events were taking place, and David Potužník became the champion in his category! Congratulations!
As a community, we visited Andělíček on the feast of the Body and Blood of the Lord (June 19). Most of our community also participated in the funeral of the parish clerk Bohumír Toman in Petrovice on June 27.
On Friday, July 4, we opened St. Felix, and the monastery church was ready for the celebration of the liturgy. We thus returned "home" from the liturgical asylum we had in the church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, for which we are grateful to Father Ondřej and the local parish. On Sunday, July 6, Brother Peter wandered around Běhařov, celebrating the pilgrimage liturgy in the church of St. Prokop together with Father Miroslav Kratochvíl from Kdyně.
On Monday, July 21, EnterJunior started in Ktiš. A very pleasant surprise was how many participants from Sušice and the surrounding area showed up. In addition, Rosťa Petřík cooked excellently here, and Verča Jahodová served in the café. This year's meeting theme was "the journey"... We started from baptism and, through life crossroads and crises, discovered the value of community and that we are sent into the surrounding world. The program included catechesis, testimonies, praises, gatherings in tribes..., games, cellars – workshops, but also mutual prayer. And the best program during breaks? Undoubtedly, the ping-pong table! Our youth was accompanied by Father Jenda Kulhánek and Brother Peter. He immediately went (on July 27) to the St. Anne's pilgrimage to Lhota near Kraselov and in the afternoon also to Jiřičná. Brother Damián has been "driving around" in a combine harvester in Moravian fields for some time now.
This year's Porciunkule took place on Saturday, August 2, in more festive surroundings than usual, and we were pleased that the attendees could not help but notice how beautified our church has become. Father Ondřej celebrated the Mass at 9 a.m. At the main pilgrimage Mass at 11 a.m., Dominican Father Kliment Mikulka was invited to connect Porciunkula with the strong life story of Chiara Petrillo. The music was provided by Kostelband, a band from Horažďovice. The evening Mass at 6 p.m. was accompanied by the Sušice Small Praises. Brother Peter presided over the liturgy.
Throughout the day, local Franciscan tertiaries helped significantly: they welcomed pilgrims and organized refreshments, which were also brought by people from the parish. Thanks to the secular Franciscans and parishioners, the church was decorated and prepared. Thank you! During the celebration, several confessors were available, mostly from the Sušice-Nepomuk vicarage. We greatly appreciate the service of Father Vojtěch Sivka, a Salesian. The sacrament of reconciliation highlighted the strong theme of the feast of Our Lady of the Angels of Porciunkula: to experience that our God is good, merciful, and forgiving. The next morning, Brother Peter celebrated the Porciunkula liturgy in Opočno, where he also took turns confessing with Provincial Brother Vojtěch.
We also briefly appeared in Strážov (August 7), where the Franciscan sisters Alžběta and Anežka renewed their vows. And we experienced great joy during the baptism of Jonáš Petr in our church (August 9). On Monday, August 11, the entire Capuchin province gathered at Hradčany for a so-called matting chapter for three days. During it, we worked synodally in small groups, and secular Franciscan and scout Jiří Zajíc took charge of overall moderation. The topics were selected according to the wishes of the brothers. The inter-brotherly meeting was also enriching. And Brother Damián returned to harvest again from Prague. It should also be noted that the guests at the monastery greatly admire Brother Samuel's gardening skills and Jan’s clever tricks at the pond.
And almost immediately afterwards (August 15 to 19), the FamilyCamp began in Petrovicích. This year's meeting was guided by the theme "The Lord takes care." A big thank you goes to Lucka Švehlová and Aleš Jahoda; thanks to their care, the event for families with children could take place. The catechesis was led by Marek Novák, and Brother Peter organized the preaching for the children. Thanks also to the band that accompanied the liturgy and praises, as well as to those who had testimonies of how God manifested in their lives. But there were many more helpers, including several in the kitchen. Priests also came and helped with confession or appeared as concelebrants (Father Ondřej, Father Marek Hric, Father Jenda). The desire behind FamilyCamp was to spend some time similarly to the early Christian community – and this was achieved again this year.
A warm encouragement was also the pilgrim Mass in Vlčkovice (August 17), where in the chapel you will find an image with a mystery… The locals received a home – a detective task to uncover who the mysterious saint in the right part of the painting is. The atmosphere during the liturgy was warmly familial.
At the moment we are writing these lines, the "secret" event in Petrovicích for "seekers" is slowly coming to an end. Huge thanks to everyone who prepared it.
Brother Peter will now go to give spiritual exercises in Moravia, Brother Samuel is also preparing for the exercises, and we all look forward to the upcoming Sušice pilgrimage! Soon the prayers for the addicted with Cenacol will resume (September 1), Cappuccino will shift a little (September 13), and the first post-summer Women’s Prayers will take place on September 15. And we invite you in advance to the service accompanied by Chevra (September 21) and also to the feast of St. Francis: the Transitus (October 3) and the actual celebration of our founder (October 4).
the Capuchin brothers
