From October 9 to 14, 2026, the National Fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order (OFS) in Argentina received a fraternal and pastoral visit from the International Council of the Secular Franciscan Order (CIOFS). The National Fraternity has 857 members, distributed among ten regional fraternities and seventy local fraternities. Tibor KAUSER, OFS Minister General, and Friar Ștefan ACATRINEI, OFM Conv., General Spiritual Assistant and representative of the Conference of General Spiritual Assistants (CAS), conducted the visit.
On Friday morning, October 9, the National Council of the OFS in Argentina welcomed the visitors to the Convent of the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity (Hermanas Franciscanas de la Caridad Cristiana) in Buenos Aires. The visitors and the National Council members worked together there throughout the day.
On Saturday morning, October 10, the participants moved to the Pontifical Mission Societies of Argentina, where the OFS Regional Ministers joined the National Council members for the visit and the 40th National Assembly. After some words of welcome by Santiago NEGRO, OFS National Minister, Friar Gonzalo Martín CARO, OFM Cap., National Spiritual Assistant, presided over Mass at 10:30 a.m. Subsequently, Tibor KAUSER spoke about the importance and significance of the fraternal and pastoral visit.
At 3:00 p.m., the meeting with the ten Regional Ministers began a busy afternoon program. The ministers described the state of the OFS in their respective regions and spent considerable time with the visitors, sharing their joys, difficulties, and challenges.
At 5:30 p.m., the representatives of the Franciscan Youth (YouFra), namely, Oriana CREVATÍN, National President, and Victoria VILLOLDO, National Secretary, gave a detailed overview of the current state of YouFra in Argentina. The group currently has 175 members organized into sixteen local fraternities, along with four interest groups. At present, only seven young people belong to both YouFra and the OFS.
Although the National Council has three Spiritual Assistants representing the three branches of the Franciscan First Order (the Friars Minor, the Conventual Franciscans, and the Capuchin Franciscans), not all local fraternities yet have a Spiritual Assistant. Interestingly, some fraternities originated in Franciscan schools without significant involvement from friars of the First Order. Among the various topics discussed, the participants highlighted the positive collaboration with the OFS National Council.
At 6:45 p.m., the visitors met with the National Spiritual Assistants: Friar Álvaro Gabriel GONZÁLEZ BENTANCOR, OFM Conv.; Friar Gonzalo Martín CARO, OFM Cap.; and Friar Carlos PAZ, OFM. They were also joined by the dynamic YouFra Spiritual Assistant, Friar Sauro CECCARELLI, OFM Cap., a tireless promoter and leader of the youth fraternity. Friar Sauro, a former YouFra member, highlighted the challenges young people face today and their desire to find authentic communities where they feel welcome and can share common values.
On Sunday morning, October 11, after prayer and breakfast at 7:30 a.m., the visitors met individually with members of the National Council. Afterward, they made themselves available to anyone who wanted to speak with them, creating an atmosphere of attentive listening and fraternal dialogue that the participants greatly appreciated.
At 4:00 p.m., members of four local fraternities in Buenos Aires arrived for a time of fellowship and recreation. At 5:45 p.m., Friar Emilio ANDRADO, OFM, Minister Provincial of the Province of the Assumption, presided over Mass. The day concluded with a cultural program.
On Monday, October 12, while the OFS National Assembly resumed its work at 9:00 a.m., the visitors continued their personal meetings with the brothers and sisters of the OFS. The National Assembly concluded with Mass at 12:15 p.m., presided over by Friar Ștefan ACATRINEI. At 3:00 p.m., the visitors held a lengthy and cordial discussion with the National Council.
On Tuesday morning, October 13, at 9:00 a.m., the visitors, accompanied by several members of the National Council, met with the Most Reverend Jorge Ignacio GARCÍA CUERVA, Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The meeting with the Archbishop was particularly fruitful.
Subsequently, at the Provincial Curia of the Friars Minor, the visitors met with three Major Superiors of the Franciscan First Order in Argentina: Friar Emilio ANDRADO, OFM; Friar Javier FONTANA, OFM Conv.; and Friar Joaquín Ernesto GERSICICH, OFM Cap. Among the topics discussed, the participants emphasized the need to accompany the OFS by ensuring that every local fraternity has a Spiritual Assistant. They also stressed the importance of strengthening collaboration throughout the Franciscan Family.
The visitors also devoted significant time to meeting with Arelisa Guadalupe ROMERO, Director of the Franciscan Center. The center offers a wide range of courses on Franciscan spirituality and tradition, and recently, teachers from Franciscan schools have shown growing interest in these educational opportunities.
On Wednesday morning, October 14, the visitors made a pilgrimage to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Luján. That evening, they shared their impressions with the National Council, officially concluding their fraternal and pastoral visit.
Friar Ștefan ACATRINEI
