The Netherlands: A Historic Milestone, Renewed Hope

         On 2 December 2025, in Eindhoven, the friars of the Netherlands joined together in an Assembly that marked an important turning point as they embraced a transition which had begun a couple of months earlier. On October 1, 2025, the Prior General, Fr. Joseph Farrell, O.S.A. issued a decree by which the former Province was placed under suspended status and was now erected as a Delegation. The decree also convoked the December Assembly, presided over by the Prior General, whom I had the grace to accompany during my first visit to this circumscription as Assistant General.

        The Assembly began in a spirit of prayer and thanksgiving, asking the Lord for the light of the Holy Spirit to discern “in unity and in peace.” The exchanges helped us to receive this transition with clarity and serenity: it is not an erasure, but an organizational form adapted to the current reality, to ensure stable fraternal accompaniment, in service of the brothers and the mission.

       After a reminder of the history and apostolic commitments, a time of dialogue enabled the brothers to ask the Prior General about the concrete meaning of the Delegation, the responsibilities of the Delegate, and the modalities of follow-up with the Curia. Official acts then took place: the conclusion of the previous government’s mandate, and words by the Prior General.  Following the Assembly, on December 12, 2025, Fr. Pierre Stikkelbroeck, O.S.A., was appointed officially as the Delegate.

The December Assembly concluded with the Eucharist. In the light of Isaiah 11 (the “shoot” that springs from a stump) and Luke 10, we meditated on this conviction: God brings forth the future from what is humble—sometimes fragile, often discreet. In this perspective, the Delegation can become a space of realistic fidelity, transmission, and hope, where communion remains the first strength of the mission.

         A decrease in numbers or a change of status therefore does not mean an absence of life. On the contrary, biblical history and spiritual experience remind us that the Lord loves to make His work grow from what seems small. The Delegation is not an erasure, but a concrete way to protect, accompany, and safeguard a precious spiritual and missionary heritage.

       Finally, we express our gratitude for all that the Dutch presence has brought to the Order: missionary dynamism, intellectual contributions, solidarity, and persevering fidelity.