On May 19-23, 2025, the Union of Conventual Franciscans of Brazil (UCOB) conducted a continuing formation meeting for friars who have been solemnly professed for five years or less. The event entitled: “Quinquennium,” was held at the Franciscan Center for Evangelization and Culture (CFEC) in Brasilia.
The meeting was attended by solemnly professed friars from the Province of St. Maximilian M. Kolbe in Brazil (Brasilia), the Province of St. Francis in Brazil (São Paulo), and the Provincial Custody of the Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M. in Brazil (Rio de Janeiro).
Participants from the Province of Brasilia included Friars Jorge Elias OLIVEIRA MACHADO, Marcelo BORGES DA SILVA, Luís Henrique DE OLIVEIRA VENTURA, Altair SANTOS DE JESUS GOMES, Marcus Vinícius BRITO PIRES DE FRANÇA, Yan Carlos DE SOUZA MARTINS, Carlos Eduardo GONÇALVES, Gederson Aparecido MARQUES NUNES, Christian César SILVA SANTOS and Thiago DA SILVA DE OLIVEIRA.
There was a single participant from the Province of São Paulo: Friar Antônio Felipe de Oliveira ZAGO.
Participants from the Custody of Rio de Janeiro included Friars Fernando PEREIRA DE ANDRADE JUNIOR, Jesus RODRIGUES DO AMARAL and Ricardo ARRUDA BEZERRA.
Friar Roberto CÂNDIDO DE SOUZA from the Province of St. Maximilian organized the event.
Friar Wilton ALVES ROCHA from the Provincial Custody of St. Bonaventure (Maranhão), and Friars Luís Felipe CARNEIRO MARQUES and Jorge Luiz SOARES DA SILVA, both from the Province of St. Maximilian M. Kolbe collaborated on organizing the lectures that were presented during the meeting.
The Quinquennium is an important event for young Conventual Franciscan friars in Brazil to spend time together, deepen their spirituality, and engage in continuing formation.
Friar Gilberto DE JESUS RODRIGUES, Minister Provinciale
