Q. How are the friars governed?

A. The friars will be away this week for our provincial chapter. This is therefore a good time to write about how the friars are governed. Since the time of St. Francis (1182-1226), friars have gathered in world-wide and regional chapters to discuss our life together, and to make decisions affecting the Order and its regional groupings. St. Francis and his immediate successor were not elected, but since the 1230s the leaders of the Franciscan Order have been chosen by some form of election.

The Capuchins are a worldwide order of approximately 11,000 friars, divided into geographic areas called provinces and vice-provinces. There are 83 provinces and 25 vice-provinces. Provinces have greater self-reliance and stability than vice-provinces. The latter are often in mission areas and are partly supported by their founding province. The head of the order is the Minister General, who is successor of St. Francis. He is assisted by an eight member council that is called the General Definitory. The General Definitory members represent different language groups within the order. The Minister General and the General Definitory are elected for six year terms at a General Chapter, held in Rome. Each province and vice-province has at least one vote in the General Chapter. More populous provinces may have an additional vote or two. The current Minister General is John Corriveau, a Canadian. The current "English speaking General Definitor" is a member of the Puerto Rican Vice-Province. The other definitors are from Brazil, Spain, Italy, Croatia, Angola, and India.

Each province covers a specific geographic territory. Provinces are governed by a Provincial, who is assisted by a four member Provincial Definitory. The Provincial and Definitory are elected by the provincial chapter - this is one of the things we will do this week. The Provincial may only serve six consecutive years, and only two of the four definitors may be re-elected.

Our province is the Province of St. Augustine. It is headquartered in Pittsburgh and includes the states of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio, and West Virginia, as well as the District of Columbia. There are currently 118 friars in our province. The 111 friars who have made life-time vows each have a vote in chapter. We are an order of brothers, so one's status as a friar is not affected by ordination. Among the voting friars are lay brothers, priests, deacons and seminarians. Friars who are ill and infirm may be excused from attending chapter, and in this case they may not vote. Our province has founded two vice-provinces, in Puerto Rico and Papua New Guinea. Because of their relationship to us, they each have two voting delegates to our chapter.

In addition to electing a provincial and definitory, the chapter may legislate for the province. This legislation is binding on the provincial and definitory. The chapter may also pass resolutions urging that particular actions or policies be implemented.

The provincial has general, but limited, power within the province. In many matters he must consult the definitory, and in a few situations he must obtain their consent. Immediately after chapter, the provincial and definitory meet to discuss the assignments of friars to the 17 local fraternities (houses) of the province, and the various ministries of each fraternity.

More information about the province and the order may be obtained from the provincial website www.capuchin.com, and the website of the order www.ofmcap.org.