From June 2 to July 3, 2020, Friar Jude WINKLER conducted a general canonical visitation to the Province of St. Maximilian M. Kolbe in South Korea.

After a two-week quarantine [due to the corona virus], he visited the eight friaries of the Province in the country, having previously visited Korea’s friary in Torrence, California, USA. The visitation began with and ended with a meeting with the Minister Provincial and his Definitory.
The friars in Korea perform a variety of ministries: parish work, serving mentally challenged young men, retreat houses, formation, an international kindergarten, etc. Each friary has confreres who work with the Secular Franciscans (OFS) and the Militia of the Immaculate (M.I.). The Conventual Franciscan presence in South Korea was founded in 1958 by Italian missionaries (one of whom was Friar Francesco FALDANI, a former missionary in China). Korea became a Province in 2001.
The Province has sixty-three friars in solemn vows at this time along with three novices who recently made their temporary profession of vows. Its Ordinary Provincial Chapter will take place on October 12-17, 2020.

Friar Jude WINKLER