On October 16-21, 2023, the Major Superiors and Delegates of the African Federation of Conventual Franciscans (AFCOF) gathered in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania for their annual Assembly.
Those participating included the Major Superiors of Zambia, Kenya, Tanzania, and Ghana; the Delegates of Uganda and Burkina Faso; and the Ministers Provincial of the Provinces of Warsaw and Cracow in Poland, which both have Delegations in Africa. As always, the Assembly was attended by the Assistant General for the AFCOF Federation, Friar Anthony Bezo KUTIERO.
The Assembly discussed issues of common collaboration in initial and continuing formation, including courses for friars who have been ordained, or solemnly professed, for five years or less. It was noticed that some of the presences in Africa are among the fastest growing Jurisdictions in the Order. Many topics were discussed during the Assembly including some that received special attention, such as the vocation of the religious brother in African context, and how the Jurisdictions of Africa can get involved in starting new presences in other countries where the Order is not present.
The Assembly concluded with the election of the new leadership of the AFCOF Federation for the next four years. Friar Hilary Omondi RADUK (Minister Provincial of Kenya) was elected as the new AFCOF President; Friar Yeromini Miku MUNISHI (Provincial Custos of Tanzania) was elected as the new AFCOF Vice-President; while Vitus (Edem Yao) MENSAH (Provincial Custos of Ghana) was elected as the new AFCOF Secretary. The next Annual Assembly will take place in October of 2024, in Ndola, Zambia.
Friar Wojciech Bartłomiej ULMAN, (Provincial Delegate in Uganda), AFCOF Secretary
