From August 3 to 7, 2026, the second part of the 2026 Ordinary Custodial Chapter of the Provincial Custody of St. Anthony of Padua in Ghana took place at the Franciscan Valley of Prayer and Silence in Saltpond, Ghana. Those attending included the Minister Provincial of the Mother Province, the Italian Province of St. Anthony of Padua (Northern Italy), Friar Roberto BRANDINELLI; the Assistant General for the African Federation of Conventual Franciscans (AFCOF), Friar Blasio Ooko OLENGE; the Provincial Econom, Friar Andrea BOTTARO; and the Capitular friars of the Custody.
The second part of the Chapter began with a spiritual reflection by Friar Gregory Abangiba AMORE, who admonished the Capitulars to set aside all individual interests and work together as one in their deliberations and discussions in order to make decisions for the good of the Custody and the Order of Friars Minor Conventual as a whole.
The Capitulars dedicated their time to discussing, deliberating, and planning for the next four-year term.
Discussions took place in smaller groups as well as in the Chapter Hall. Working in smaller groups, the Capitulars discussed the Custodial Four-Year Plan and the proposed Motions. After several rounds of deliberation, modification, and correction in the Chapter Hall, they voted to approve both the 2026-2030 Custodial Four-Year Plan and the proposed Motions that will guide the Provincial Custody during the new, four-year term.
On August 7, 2026, at the proposal of the Provincial Custos, the Capitulars elected the Guardians of the friaries in the Custody. After electing the Guardians, the Capitulars also voted for the Rectors and Directors of the formation houses. Furthermore, they voted for the chairmen of the Initial and Continuing Formation Commissions, as well as the chairmen of the other commissions in the Custody. These elections were conducted in a spirit of fraternity, and the friars who were elected accepted their new responsibilities in a spirit of humility and service.
During Midday Prayer that same day, the newly elected Guardians made their profession of faith and swore their oath of office. The Custos, Friar Vitus Edem Yao MENSAH, congratulated all the newly elected friars and thanked them for their willingness to accept, with humility, their service to the fraternity during the next four-year term. He also thanked all the Capitulars for their presence and the tremendous contributions they made before and during the Chapter proceedings, especially the Minister Provincial, Friar Roberto BRANDINELLI, for his constant paternal care and support for the Custody; the Provincial Econom, Friar Andrea BOTTARO; and the Assistant General for the AFCOF Federation, Friar Blasio Ooko OLENGE. The Custos also encouraged all the friars to continue working together as one fraternity so that they might bear Franciscan witness wherever they are.
At the end of all the deliberations and elections, just before the close of the 2026 Ordinary Custodial Chapter, the friars, in a spirit of prayer, fraternity, and remembrance, visited the Custodial cemetery, also located at the Franciscan Valley of Prayer and Silence, to commemorate their deceased brothers and acknowledge their contributions and the various roles they played in the growth of the Custody.
As friars, we continue to entrust ourselves to the hands of Almighty God through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, our Seraphic Father, St. Francis of Assisi, and St. Anthony of Padua as we continue to live the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Friar Sylvester Eugene KOOMSON, Custodial Secretary
