From September 8 to 11, 2026, the Provincial Custody of St. Bonaventure in Brazil (Maranhão) conducted the second part of its 4th Ordinary Custodial Chapter. The Chapter was held at the Menino Jesus de Praga Friary in São Luís, Maranhão State, Brazil.
The Chapter began with Mass on the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Provincial Custos, Friar Roberto HONORATO OLIVEIRA DOS REMÉDIOS, welcomed the Capitular friars and invited them to embrace this new step in the Custody’s journey.
During the second part of the Chapter, the friars drafted the Motions that will guide them in preparing their Four-Year Custodial Plan for 2026–2030. The Capitulars also elected the Guardians of the friaries, the Pastors, and the formators for the postulancy and post-novitiate programs.
The Custody is currently present in four Brazilian states. It has four friaries in Maranhão State. Three of them are in São Luís: the Menino Jesus de Praga Friary, which houses the Custodial Curia; the Santo Antônio de Pádua Friary; and the São Francisco de Assis Friary. The fourth is the São Francisco de Assis Friary in Bom Jardim. In Ceará State, the Custody is present in Fortaleza, with the João Duns Scoto Friary and the Santo Antônio de Pádua Parish Church. In Piauí State, it is present in Teresina, with the Santa Clara filial house and the Irmã Dulce dos Pobres Parish Church; and in Pará State, it is present in Nova Timboteua, with the São Maximiliano M. Kolbe Friary and the São Francisco de Assis Parish Church.
On the morning of September 10, the friars prayed Morning Prayer for the faithful departed, commemorating the friars of the Custody who have returned to the Father’s House. At the conclusion, the Guardians made their Profession of Faith and swore their Oath of Office before the Provincial Custos, Friar Roberto.
Finally, the members of the Custody joyfully celebrated the solemn profession of Friar André MOREIRA LIMA. They thanked God for the gift of Friar André’s vocation and for his definitive “yes” to life in the fraternity.
Friar Alessandro RODRIGUES DA SILVA,
Custodial Communications
