On February 17, 2024, at 4:00 p.m., the Conventual Franciscan Novitiate of St. Anthony in Cascavel, Brazil, began a new year. All of the Jurisdictions in Brazil are served by this single novitiate.
This year, the novitiate has seventeen novices total. Fifteen are from Brazil, one is from Venezuela and one is from Bolivia. The novitiate year opened with a joyful celebration attended by lay persons, men and women religious and many friars from various regions of Brazil. The celebration also included the blessing of the Conventual Franciscan habits that the novices will wear during their probationary year.
Let us together pray that these brothers may persevere as they begin a new phase of formation and mission in their lives.
Friar Willian Gomes MENDONÇA, Custodial Secretary