On March 14-18, 2022, all of the solemnly professed friars of the Provincial Custody of St. Anthony of Padua in Ghana conducted their annual spiritual retreat at the St. Francis of Assisi Friary and Novitiate in Saltpond, Ghana. The theme of the retreat was “Together as Brothers on a Mission.”
The retreat was directed by Friar Alfred PARAMBAKATHU, OFM Conv., the General Delegate for the Secular Franciscan Order. He drew the attention of the friars to a number of things that should help them in fulfilling their mission together as brothers. He said, “Just as St. Francis of Assisi saw the other brother as a gift from God, so are we to see each friar in the fraternity as a gift from God in view of achieving God’s mission.” He invited the friars to always ask themselves: “What kind of brother am I to the fraternity?” He noted that St. Francis, even before his conversion, enjoyed the company of his friends. This explains the joy St. Francis always felt when he was with his brothers. His brothers were given to him by God.
Friar Alfred stressed the importance of living the Gospel as brothers. It is our living the Gospel as brothers that truly preaches to the world.
At the end of the retreat, the friars thanked Friar Alfred for his enriching daily reflections.
On March 14, the beginning of the retreat, Friar Pius Kofi ASARE made his Profession of Faith and took his oath of office as the Guardian of the newly erected Our Lady of the Angels–Portiuncola Friary in Awoshie-Anyaa, Accra, Ghana.
Friar Pius Kofi ASARE, Custodial Secretary
