So there we go again. Bang goes fraternity after death! Up to now all dead friars lived in “fraternity” at the Addolorata Cemetery. No longer.Now we have the privileged types as well, who will have their own depository in the hallowed precincts of Gesù Habib. When certain families asked for their friar loved ones to be buried with them as a family, the friars did not accept. Friars should be buried together was the answer. Now the remains of certain friars are to be treated differently. Why? God only knows, but perhaps some savvy friars also know.

When I was Minister Provincial, I gave permission for the Church at Strada Rosa to be built with funds which came from various sources including the Franciscan Province. I always believed that a good thing needs encouragement, and that it is gentlemanly to carry on the good works done by your predecessors. I supervised all the work that was being done together with the friar involved, and also made my suggestions. I had to make sure, most of all, that all the work and investment being made would not be hijacked at some point in time by the Carmelite parish to which the church belongs. The work was carried out and I am proud to say that the Church of Gesù Habib is as much my work as it is of the two friars who have been removed from the dust at our Chapel and given privileged burial. May I ask if I will have the honour of being buried alongside my two confreres as well?

Hey, I’m joking. I believe in fraternity in life and in death. I want to be buried with the rest of the ordinary friars at the Addolorata. They have been my brothers in life, and I will not spurn them in death. After all there are many other friars there who deserve special attention. In death, however, there should be no distinctions.

I was told that the same thing took place in the Custody of the Holy Land where some distinguished archaeologists were given special burial at the places where they worked during their lifetime. What I say to this is that what is bad for the goose is bad for the gander. Mistakes made in other Provinces, even if they were venerable ones, are always mistakes and should not be followed.