On July 16-23, 2023, the Province of St. Francis of Assisi in Kenya celebrated its second Ordinary Provincial Chapter. The event took place at the Village of Mary, Mother of God Shrine in Subukia, Kenya.
The Chapter was presided over by the Minister General, Friar Carlos TROVARELLI. The Assistant General for the African Federation of Conventual Franciscans (AFCOF) Friar Anthony Bezo KUTIERO, was also present. All of the solemnly professed friars of the Province attended except for Friars Aquinas Mutunga MUTUA and Peter Mwema KYALO who were in Italy preparing to start their studies. The Minister Provincial of the Province of St. Bonaventure in the USA, Friar Paul LANGEVIN, also attended, in view of the close relationship between his Province and that of Kenya. Others present included the Minister Provincial of the Mother Province of Gdańsk, Poland, Friar Wojciech KULIG (as a non-voting member) and Friar Robert KOZIELSKI, who works in the mission office of the same Province.
The Chapter was preceded by a spiritual introduction led by Friar Paul LANGEVIN who urged the friars to imitate the humility of St. Francis. During the first session of the Chapter, reports were read concerning various pastoral activities. During the second session, the friars decided to discuss the topics that were prescribed in the new Directory for the Celebration of Chapters. After that, a summary was prepared that the Provincial Definitory will use to form the Provincial Four-Year Plan during the second part of the Chapter.
On July 19, 2023, during the third session—in accord with the instructions of the Directory—the friars elected Friar Hilary Omondi RADUK as their new Minister Provincial. Friar Hilary took his oath of office on July 20, during Mass presided over by the Most Reverend Cleophas Oseso TUKA, Bishop of Nakuru, Kenya.
During the fourth session, the following Definitors were elected: Friar Joseph Kikuyu MUNGUTI (Vicar Provincial); Friar Paul Njuguna KIARIE (Provincial Secretary); and Friars Kazimierz SZULC and Gifton Kiwo MBAYA (Definitors). The Chapter ended with a Franciscan blessing from the Minister General and a Marian hymn.
Friar Paul Njuguna KIARIE, Chapter and Provincial Secretary
