From September 27 to October 4, 2021, the postulants of the Provincial Custody of St. Bonaventure in Brazil participated in a missionary week, in preparation for the Solemnity of St. Francis of Assisi.
Four postulants accompanied their formator, Friar Roberto Honorato OLIVEIRA DOS REMÉDIOS, to the Gurupá Community in Teresina, Piauí State, Brazil. Another five postulants went to the São Francisco de Assis Parish in Bom Jardim, Maranhão State, Brazil.
At the Gurupá Community, the postulants took part in various missionary activities, such as inserting themselves into the reality of the community, organizing a novena, praying the Rosary, celebrating Mass and helping during the baptisms of some children and young people. In Bom Jardim, the postulants made themselves available to serve the community, as a sign of the presence of the Kingdom in that Franciscan place. Both communities carried out processions for the Solemnity of St. Francis. These processions showed the faith of the people and, in many cases, their true conversion, as people decided to take their lives in a new direction and commit themselves to the community.
These events offered meaningful moments of communion, fraternity and spiritual growth, both for the postulants and for the faithful. It was evident in both communities, that the people were very happy to have the missionaries in their presence. Both communities were notably hospitable, as well; the missionaries never lacked anything they needed to carry out their mission successfully.
The postulants learned that every Franciscan must be a sign of the presence of Christ, in whatever reality he is inserted, because that is what our Seraphic Father St. Francis taught us. Taking part in the communal celebration of the solemnity, both in Teresina and in Bom Jardim, greatly enhanced the postulants’ vocation and helped them perceive the beauty of being Franciscan. It encouraged them to fix their gaze on Christ and to remain steadfast in their vocational journey.
Friar Roberto Honorato OLIVEIRA DOS REMÉDIOS, Custodial Secretary
