On July 13-19, 2025, the 4th European Congress of the Secular Franciscan Order (OFS) and Franciscan Youth (YouFra) was held at a Marist facility in Llinars del Vallés, Barcelona, Spain. The theme of the event was: “Creation and Fraternity: One Family, One Mission. 800 Years of the Canticle of the Creatures.” 130 people from twenty different European countries attended.
The OFS General Minister, Tibor KAUSER, formally opened the Congress at the beginning of Mass at 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 13. Friar Ștefan ACATRINEI, the General Spiritual Assistant for OFS and YouFra, presided. At 10:00 p.m., the National Minister of the OFS in Spain, Maria José PIRIZ, and the Regional Minister of Catalonia, Montserrat LINARES, officially welcomed everyone. Afterwards, the delegations of the twenty national fraternities briefly introduced themselves.
The entire week’s program was very full. It harmoniously combined prayer, work, recreation, fraternal and cultural moments, and personal time. Two full days, Tuesday and Thursday, were dedicated specifically to the Canticle of the Creatures. Several topics were addressed during the conferences, and subsequently discussed in workshops. They included: “The Canticle of the Creatures: A Proposal for the People of Today” (Friar Salvador JIMÉNEZ DURÁN, OFM); “The Service of Leadership in the OFS and YouFra” (Tibor KAUSER, OFS General Minister, and Félix CHOCOJAY, OFS, YouFra International Coordinator), “OFS-YouFra We Are Church: The Church on a Synodal Journey” (the Most Reverend Salvador CRISTAU COLL, Bishop of Tarrasa, Spain), and “Being a Secular Franciscan: A Song of Praise to the Father from the Canticle of the Creatures” (Manolo SANCHEZ, OFS).
Wednesday, July 16, was entirely dedicated to a pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Montserrat [near Barcelona].
On Thursday evening, July 17, at 8:00 p.m., Friar Alexandru DÂNCĂ, OFM Conv., with a youth group from the Parish Church of Mare de Déu de Montserrat i de Sant Antoni de Pàdua in Granollers, Spain, visited the Congress and led a period of Eucharistic adoration.
On Friday morning, July 18, the Congress participants were introduced to the culture of the Spanish region of Catalonia through a presentation entitled: “An Explanation of the Castellers [makers of human towers or pyramids] and Their Techniques” (Xavi RAMOS and Joan CONTRERAS). Later, the participants built their own human tower for the first time. This Catalan tradition of building human towers, now 200 years old, is deeply significant because it is based on the value inherent in each person, regardless of their age, social status, or physical strength. Everyone can easily find a place in the human tower.
On Friday afternoon, at 6:30 p.m., His Eminence Cardinal Juan José OMELLA OMELLA, Archbishop of Barcelona, presided over Mass in the crypt of the Basilica of the Sagrada Família [Barcelona]. In his homily, he expressed admiration and appreciation for the fruitful involvement of OFS fraternities in the pastoral activities of his diocese. Afterwards, the entire group toured the Sagrada Família Basilica, and on returning to Llinars del Vallés, enjoyed a special program prepared by the OFS National Fraternity of Spain, featuring traditional music and dance.
Saturday, July 19, began with Morning Prayer at 8:30 a.m. At 10:00 a.m., the icon of the Virgin Mary, Queen of the Franciscan Family, was entrusted to the OFS National Fraternity of Germany. Immediately afterwards, the final plenary assembly was held. At 11:30 a.m., Friar Ștefan ACATRINEI presided over the closing Mass. The other Spiritual Assistants present concelebrated. They were: Friar Ivan HRKAĆ, OFM, from Bosnia and Herzegovina; Friar Andrian ZUDIN, OFM Conv., from Russia; Friars Ángel Mariano GUZMÁN LUDEÑA, OFM Conv., and Mariano RECÍO RIOJA, OFM Conv., from Spain; and Friar Fernando VENTURA, OFM Cap., from Portugal). The OFS General Minister officially closed the 4th European OFS-YouFra Congress and gave the final blessing.
The last official activity on of the congressional schedule was lunch at 2:00 p.m. Afterwards, the participants began to say their goodbyes, although some remained until Sunday.
Returning to their fraternities, everyone brought back fond memories—but above all, the joy of having prayed, worked, and lived together, inspired by the same Franciscan charism.
Friar Ștefan ACATRINEI
