From August 31 to September 16, 2026, the Province of St. Maximilian M. Kolbe in Brazil (Brasilia) hosted four regional continuing formation meetings. The meetings were attended by a total of forty friars. These gatherings provided an opportunity to strengthen the fraternal, spiritual, and missionary dimensions of our religious life.
As part of the Franciscan Jubilee Year commemorating the 800th anniversary of the transitus of St. Francis of Assisi, the meetings combined study and reflection with dialogue and fraternal discussion. Each region addressed a specific topic to explore the meaning of the Franciscan vocation and the challenges we are called to face in living the Gospel today.
The first meeting took place from August 31 to September 2 in Aracaju, in the state of Sergipe. Six friars from the Northeast region—which corresponds to the Delegation of St. Anthony of Padua—participated. They came from the Nossa Senhora das Candeias Friary, the São José de Cupertino Friary, and the Nossa Senhora Aparecida Friary. Friar Israel Fernando DA SILVA SOBRINHO led a reflection on fraternal and missionary life in Franciscan spirituality and on the questions and needs arising from today’s social and ecclesial realities.
On September 14, the friars of the Central-South region gathered at Espaço IGR, an event venue in Valparaíso de Goiás, in the state of Goiás. Led by Friar Jorge CAMPELO DE ALBUQUERQUE E MELO, they reflected on Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical Magnifica humanitas. Fourteen friars attended. They came from the Imaculada Conceição Friary, the Santo Antônio de Pádua Friary, the Santo Antônio de Pádua II Friary, and the São Pedro, Apóstolo Friary.
From September 14 to 16, the Central-North region held its meeting at the Diocesan Shrine of Nossa Senhora d’Abadia do Muquém, in Niquelândia, in the state of Goiás. Friar Marcelo BORGES DA SILVA led a reflection on the charismatic legacy of the Seraphic Father on the occasion of the 800th anniversary of the transitus of St. Francis of Assisi. Ten friars participated. They came from the Santa Clara de Assis Friary, the São Maximiliano Maria Kolbe Friary, and the São José Filial House, which belongs to the São Francisco de Assis Friary.
On September 15, ten friars from the Central Region gathered at the Fazenda (farm) São Miguel Arcanjo in Planaltina, Federal District, for a fraternal discussion of the encyclical Magnifica humanitas. They came from the São Boaventura Friary, the São Francisco de Assis Friary, the Santa Clara de Assis Friary, the São Marcos e São Lucas Friary, and the Santa Maria dos Anjos Friary
In the regions that studied Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical, the reading of the document prompted reflection on the dignity of the human person, fraternity, and the challenges of our time. The various topics it covered encouraged the friars to renew their response to the Lord’s call and to draw inspiration from the witness of St. Francis in order to live the Gospel with greater fidelity.
In addition to the formation activities, the friars also found time to converse, share experiences, and relax together. Shared meals and fraternal outings strengthened the bonds among the friars, reminding them that fraternity grows through work and formation, but also through the simplicity of daily life.
During this jubilee marking the 800th anniversary of the transitus of St. Francis, continuing formation invites us to rediscover in his witness a focal point for our lives and our mission and to respond to today’s challenges with creative fidelity.
May St. Francis of Assisi intercede for our Province and help us to embrace fraternity, remain faithful to the Gospel and to the mission the Lord entrusts to us.
Friar Gederson Aparecido MARQUES NUNES, President of the Communications Commission
