From April 28 to May 2, 2025, the Provincial Custody of St. Bonaventure in Brazil, hosted a formation course at the Beato João Duns Scoto Friary and Formation House in Fortaleza, Ceará State, Brazil. The course was conducted for nine simply professed friars and two post-novitiate formators: Friars Valdir DA SILVA LOPES and Clevis MAFRA DOS SANTOS.
The general theme of the course, “Human Formation,” was proposed by psychologist Evanir DA COSTA FILGUEIRAS. The course focused on quality of life and the need for mental health in religious life, meaning the pursuit and care of a life in harmony with oneself, with others, and with creation. This was explored with attention to the different stages of life, so that everyone could understand the most important aspects. Each day began with Mass presided over by the Custos, Friar Roberto HONORATO OLIVEIRA DOS REMÉDIOS.
Additional topics were addressed, such as: adult life and the maturation process; the challenges we face and how we manage emotions and feelings in daily life; the wisdom that comes with aging; and the lessons learned from both victories and defeats. The participants also discussed the challenges of human relationships within fraternal life; the choice of religious life and its implications; fraternal life and coexisting with difficult personalities while also recognizing those who manage to live harmoniously together despite their differences.
The psychologist also shared strategies for managing emotions and dealing with emotional imbalances arising from life’s dissatisfactions. The friars also talked about pastoral life as the fulfillment of vocation; overwork in pastoral ministry leading to physical and mental illnesses; the use of medication and how it can give us a sense of control or instability in our lives; suicide as a loss of meaning in life; the crises we face on the journey; the challenges of maintaining mental health in the face of anxiety; the excessive use of social networks and the meaning of life; and how to turn life’s experiences into a grand celebration.
Through events like this, the Custody seeks to promote initiatives that help friars stay in tune with our Order and foster ever healthier and more fraternal human formation. As our Constitutions teach:
Franciscan formation is to be seen as a journey of progressive purification and growth in relationship with God, with others, with the self, and with creation. It fosters the maturation of the friars and the development of those virtues indispensable for fraternal life, witness, and mission. Particular care is to be taken in formation regarding psycho-sexual maturity, which is the basis of peaceful, grounded, and transparent relationships with others. (Const., Art. 139, §§1-2)
This meeting gave the post-novices a clear understanding of various aspects of human formation and provided an opportunity to deepen their sense of fraternity in light of the lessons learned.
Friar Roberto HONORATO OLIVEIRA DOS REMÉDIOS
