The Plan of Ongoing Formation in the Order of Friars Minor invites the Minister Provincials to find ways to foster the Franciscan formation of the brothers. These include Sabbathical years, places for retreats, hermitage experiences, spiritual direction, prayer groups, support groups, therapy; reading and updating of the libraries in the friaries, professional refresher courses in theology and franciscan studies. (Incipiamus Fratres. Ongoing Formation in the Order of Friars Minor, General Secretariat for Formation and Studies, Rome 1995, n. 67d).

Our Province launched the course of Franciscan Studies back in October 1993, on the occasion of the 800 years from the birth of St. Clare of Assisi with the specific aim of fostering professional formation in spirituality, history and franciscan culture to male and female Franciscans, religious and laity alike. More than 60 students have already partecipated in these courses thanks to the generous collaboration of the qualified friars of the province.

On the initiative of the Commissariat of the Holy Land a space has been provided at the Valletta Friary which is serving as a seat for the specialised courses that the Province offers from time to time. The "Terra Sancta" hall, inaugurated on the 14th of May 1995 by Fr Giuseppe Nazzaro, Custos of the Holy Land, has also become the centre for biblical courses being offered by the Holy Land Commissariat with the collaboration of the qualified friars in biblical, archaeological and historical spheres. For the first course held, entitled "The Fifth Gospel" about 100 students participated. "Jerusalem 3000" is another course programmed for October-December 1996.

In oder to strengthen these initiatives of courses about Franciscan Studies and the Holy Land, and in order to contribute positively towards the true collaboration with all the members of the Franciscan Movement in Malta on professional lines, we declare the foundation of the Franciscan Institute, under the patronage and direction of the Maltese Franciscan Province, and we approve the particular statutes of this Institution which are annexed with this declaration. We nominate Fr. Marcello Ghirlando OFM S.Th.D.(P.U.G.), Commissary of the Holy Land as coordinator of the Biblical section and Fr. Noel Muscat OFM S.Th.D.(P.A.A.) as coordinator of the Franciscan Section.

4th October 1995
Feastday of St. Francis of Assisi

Fr. Raymond Camilleri OFM
Minister Provincial