From October 9 to 11, 2026, the Jorbalán Spirituality Center of the Adorers Sisters, located in the municipality of Chía, Colombia, hosted a Chapter of Mats that brought together various members of the Franciscan Family in Colombia. The gathering was held as part of the 800th anniversary of the transitus of St. Francis of Assisi. It was a time of prayer, reflection, dialogue, and artistic expression, allowing the participants to explore the significance of Francis’ spiritual legacy in today’s world.
Among those attending were Friars José Gabriel HERNÁNDEZ CAMPO and José Danilo JIMÉNEZ RINCÓN, both members of the Conventual Franciscan Provincial Custody of St. Francis of Assisi in Colombia. Over the three-day gathering, the participants reflected on the meaning of life, caregiving, aging, and death in light of Franciscan spirituality. They sought to connect the transitus of St. Francis with the experiences and challenges of contemporary life.
The Chapter opened on Friday, October 9, with the participants’ arrival and a time of fraternal welcome. An initial reflection on the transitus of St. Francis helped the participants understand the purpose of the gathering and raised questions that would guide their discussions over the following days.
On Saturday morning, the participants gathered outdoors for a time of prayer inspired by the Canticle of the Creatures. Their close contact with nature helped them engage with this text, which expresses St. Francis’ faith and his relationship with creation, and set the tone for a day of shared dialogue and reflection.
The discussions focused on three themes: essential care, aging, and death. To address these topics, the group used the “circle of speech” method, a dialogue practice rooted in Colombia’s Indigenous communities that encourages attentive listening and full participation. Everyone shared their experiences and perspectives, reflecting on these aspects of life and how to live out the Franciscan charism in the face of the challenges of contemporary society.
In the afternoon, the participants took part in three workshops devoted to poetry, weaving, and dance, each offered as a way to express faith and Franciscan experience. The poetry workshop invited the participants to discover the power of words to convey personal and spiritual experiences. The weaving workshop offered an opportunity to reflect on the value of relationships and the importance of building fraternal bonds. Finally, the dance workshop used music and bodily movement to allow the participants to express what words cannot always communicate.
The artistic program concluded with an exhibition by Friar Juan RENDÓN HERRERA, OFM, who shared his journey as a painter and explained how he uses art to communicate his experience of God. His colorful, joyful works demonstrated how artistic expression can become a way to bear witness to faith and convey a message of life.
Saturday evening was dedicated to fraternal fellowship around a bonfire. The participants shared traditional foods from their respective regions and spent a few hours together enjoying music, dancing, and conversation. The gathering provided an opportunity to strengthen fraternal bonds and appreciate the cultural richness of the different regions represented.
On Sunday, October 11, Deacon Alirio CÁCERES AGUIRRE of the Archdiocese of Bogotá, an eco-theologian and a member of the Laudato Si’ Movement, shared his experience coordinating the Movement’s activities in Colombia. During his presentation, he described initiatives underway across the country, the Movement’s working methods, and the main difficulties and challenges involved in this work. His testimony provided an opportunity to explore the care of creation more deeply and reflect on how Franciscan spirituality can help address the needs of today’s world.
The Chapter concluded with Mass, during which the participants thanked God for their shared experience and celebrated the mystery of Christ, who gives Himself and remains present among His people.
In the year marking the 800th anniversary of the transitus of St. Francis, this Chapter of Mats gave members of the Franciscan Family in Colombia an opportunity to share their experiences and reflect on the relevance of the Franciscan charism today. Through prayer, dialogue, art, and fraternal life, the participants rediscovered the witness of St. Francis and reflected on how to live out and pass on his message in the present day.
Friar José Danilo JIMÉNEZ RINCÓN
