On May 3-25, 2026, six friars of the Provincial Custody of St. Francis Anthony Fasani of Vietnam took part in a continuing formation program organized by the Federation of Asian Minor Conventuals (FAMC). The friars went on a nearly twenty-day pilgrimage visiting various Franciscan sources in Rome, Assisi, and Padua. The experience was a valuable opportunity for spiritual growth, fraternity, and vocational renewal.
Some journeys are more than simple trips; they are a true “return to the sources” of the soul and of following Christ. For the friars from Vietnam, their pilgrimage to the Franciscan sources and this time of continuing formation were not just a stage in their formation journey, but an authentic gift of renewal, offering them the opportunity to deepen their understanding of Franciscan spirituality, re-examine the history of the Order, and, more profoundly, return to the heart of God in the silence of their inner selves.
Amid the demands of pastoral ministry and the challenges of daily life, this period became a true “time of grace.” The participants thanked the Lord, who protected them and strengthened them in their bonds of huynh đệ đoàn (fraternity). The friars also expressed their sincere gratitude to the Minister General, the Vicar General, the members of the General Definitory, and the various Guardians who welcomed them. They offered special thanks to Friar Giuseppe PARK, the Assistant General for the FAMC Federation, for his valuable support and for his dedication in guiding the group’s journey of reflection. The care, simple hospitality, and spirit of quiet service shown by all the friars—particularly Friar Tomasz NGUYỄN (Đinh Anh Nhuệ), Friar Francesco Saverio HOÀI (Trần Văn), and Friar Jerzy NOREL—was a source of comfort and a concrete example of Franciscan dedication.
At the heart of this experience was meditation on the Transitus, the final passing of St. Francis. As the participants walked through sites where the Seraphic Father was once present and paused in prayer within hermitages steeped in silence, they rediscovered the richness of a spiritual tradition that continues to transmit its strength through the centuries. The Transitus is more than the last moment of St. Francis’ life, it is the culmination of an existence lived in the constant transition from one’s own will to the will of God. Reflecting on this mystery highlighted the need for continuing conversion and a constant exodus from one’s old self in order to be clothed in the humility of Christ, poor and crucified. For Franciscans today, every stage of continuing formation is meant to lead one to a transitus: a dying to self so that the Gospel may come alive in one’s actions, relationships, and mission.
As the friars retraced the history of the Order—from the humble beginnings of St. Francis and the first friars to the present day—they came to recognize more clearly that everything is a gift. Liturgical celebrations, sharing meals, and fraternal dialogue formed the setting in which the joy of their vocation was renewed. At the end of the pilgrimage, the friars had more than the memories of the holy places they visited. They also gained a renewed awareness that the Transitus represents a daily journey for every Franciscan. May the Lord, who began his work in St. Francis, continue to shape the lives of his sons into a simple and joyful witness of the Gospel, so that their lives may become a living sign of God’s peace and love in the world.
Friar Peter Julian Eymard HOÀNG (Thanh Đông)
