On July 12-19, 2023, the Franciscanum community in Assisi hosted a group of friars from the Foederatio Europae Mediae et Orientalis (FEMO).
The group, composed of eleven friars from Poland, Russia, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, came to Assisi for a spiritual retreat at the conclusion of their continuing formation course for solemnly professed friars held in Harmęże, Poland.
The course, entitled, “ Francis of Assisi: Icon of the Converted Man,” was led by the Guardian of the friary in Harmęże, Friar Jerzy NOREL. It retraced the spiritual journey of St. Francis during various moments of his life, his conversion and his following of Christ.
This was a beautiful and rich experience, despite the fatigue of a heatwave. It was characterized by reflections, pilgrimages, fraternal discussions and visiting places dear to our founder. All this has helped the friars to relive the grace of the early days of the Order, to rediscover the beauty of the Franciscan call to the evangelical life and to experience renewed zeal for missionary work.
May St. Francis guide these friars in their lives lived in fidelity to the Gospel and in service to the Church and society of Eastern Europe.
Friar Jerzy NOREL
