From October 1-22, 2022, a fraternal meeting of formation and coexistence for the friars of Latin America took place at the Franciscanum Friary in Assisi. The event was organized by the Federación América Latina Conventuales (FALC), in coordination with Friar Jesús CEBALLOS BENAVIDES and the Assistant General for the FALC Federation, Rogério PEREIRA XAVIER.
The participants included Friar Cristiano DA SILVA FREITAS from the Province of St. Maximilian M. Kolbe in Brazil; Friars Valdevan Correia de BARROS and Alexandre PATUCCI DE LIMA from the Province of St. Francis in Brazil; Friars Paulo Fernando VICENTE and Fábio SOARES DA SILVA from the Provincial Custody of the Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M. in Brazil; Friars Pablo A. CARVAJAL ESPINOZA and Jorge E. BARILLAS RODRÍGUEZ from the Provincial Custody of Mary, Mother of Mercy in Central America; Friar Domicio R. MOLINA PEREZ from the Provincial Custody of Our Lady of Coromoto in Venezuela; Friars MARTÍNEZ ARAQUE and Otoniel de Jesús SALCEDO BARRIOS from the Provincial Custody of St. Francis of Assisi in Colombia; Friar Jorge REYES VALLEJO from the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico; and Friar Danisandro SÁNCHEZ PEÑA from the Provincial Delegation in Cuba.
The meeting dealt with issues of Franciscan history and spirituality. The friars visited Franciscan sites in Assisi and other significant places in the area, such as Gubbio, Fonte Colombo, Spoleto, La Verna, Foligno and Greccio.
During the meetings: Friar Rafael PINHEIRO NORMANDO of the Sacred Convent in Assisi spoke about “The Vocation of the City of Assisi”, taken from some frescoes in the Basilica of St. Francis and from his experience in welcoming pilgrims; Friar Marcos A. QUESADA NAVARRO discussed the writings of St. Francis, examining the sources and historical details.
The participants are deeply grateful for the fraternal hospitality they received from the Franciscanum and for the pleasant and fraternal atmosphere, which showed them the real Franciscan charism. They were also grateful to the fraternity of the Sacred Convent for their nice welcome, in particular the Custos, Friar Marco MORONI.
Friar Alexandre PATUCCI DE LIMA
Friar Pablo CARVAJAL ESPINOZA
