The English-speaking course for new missionaries began on September 2, 2019, in Brussels, Belgium.
The Our Lady of the Nations International Fraternity (belonging to the Order of Friars Minor) welcomed ten Franciscan friars (OFM, OFM Cap., and OFM Conv.) to its course for new missionaries. The friars are preparing to do missionary work in different countries, including Denmark, Indonesia (Timor), India, Ghana, Turkey, South Africa and Zambia. Some Secretaries General for the Missions were present to open the course for missionaries. They were Friars Mariosvaldo FLORENTINO OFM Cap., Alonso MORALES OFM; and Friar Jarosław WYSOCZAŃSKI, OFM Conv., who was representing the Conventual Franciscan Order as its former Secretary General for Missionary Animation.
The course for missionaries is being directed by Friar Gianfrancesco SISTO, OFM. It offers discussions led by experts on topics such as the History of the Franciscan Missionary Approach; Ecumenical Dialogue and the Mission; Encountering Islam; Contemporary Franciscan Missiology; Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation; The New Evangelization in Europe; the Mission in Asia; Cultures and Religions of Africa; Fraternal Finances in Mission and the Role of the Leader. Among the speakers was our confrere Friar Vincenzo MARCOLI, OFM Conv., who spoke as an expert on Franciscan Missionary Theology.
To conclude the course, a pilgrimage to Assisi and other Franciscan locations is planned, in order to ask the Poverello for the gift of his own missionary spirit and zeal.
The participants from our Order include Friars James CHOORAMANA (India), Hermanus Tugas GINTING (Indonesia) and Stephen Maria BEJO (Philippines).
Friar Jarosław WYSOCZAŃSKI
