St. Rose of Viterbo SFO Fraternity cordially invites OLIR SFOs and Spiritual Assistants to a special presentation on April 2 by Friar Martin Bitzer, OFM, Conv., General Spiritual Assistant to the Secular Franciscan Order, who is visiting from Rome, Italy. Friar Martin is in Terre Haute to attend a brief course at Indiana State University.
"The New Spiritual Assistant for the New Secular Franciscan Order" is the topic of Friar Martin's program which will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Gregorian Room at St. Joseph University Parish in Terre Haute. St. Rose of Viterbo SFOs are hosting the event and will provide day-long refreshments and lunch.
Friar Martin's presentation on what the ideal spiritual assistant should be in today's SFO is not merely based on research. During the time of his initial formation, he founded a Youth Franciscan (YouFra) fraternity and collaborated in the running of an SFO fraternity from 1982 to 1986. From 1996 to 2004 he worked as the national Assistant of the SFO in Argentina and Uruguay.
He was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1958 and joined the Conventuals in 1979. Perpetually professed in 1985, he was ordained to the priesthood in 1987. After studying philosophy and theology at Cordoba, Argentina, he obtained his license in biblical theology at the Gregorian University in Rome. He worked in formation, first as Rector of the International College, "Seraphicum," in Rome( 1989-1993) and then in his province as Master of Novices( 1994-1995).
The Minister General of the Order, Fr. Joachim A Giermek, appointed Friar Martin General Spiritual Assistant for the SFO in July 2004, and Fr. Marco Tasca confirmed this appointment in July 2009 for another six years until 2016.
