During the week of May 5-9 , 2025, the Ministers Provincial of the Conventual Franciscan Federation (CFF) and their Definitories met together to discuss the possible merging of the four North American Provinces sometime in the near future.
The meeting took place at the motherhouse of the Province of Our Lady of Consolation, in the USA, located at Mount St. Francis, Indiana. Thirty friars came together to share ideals, hopes and concerns.
Witnessing the recent merger of six North American Observant Franciscan Provinces, our Conventual community also had to look at the hard reality of our own diminishing numbers. Declining membership due to aging, illness, and death is taking a toll on our ability to best serve our far-reaching ministries. Nevertheless, we are still hopeful that any type of future merger will be much more than expediency.
Having been united for many decades through shared inter-provincial formation programs, policies, commissions, retreats, and more, the North American Provinces believe that hope is always with us. Our common ideals and collaborative decision-making continue to strengthen us for the good of our worldwide Order.
The experience at Mount St. Francis was profoundly positive―and, as mentioned―hope-filled! The emphasis of our week-long synodal meeting was to listen patiently to the shared wisdom of the wider community, concretely present in the gathering of so many Definitors. A great sense of goodwill flowed from our honest discussions, varied perspectives, and words of caution. The next step will be to take our collected insights back to our individual Provinces through written surveys and in-person assemblies.
We reaffirmed that we are more alike than different, especially given our common origin, the German Province that founded us in 1852. While we acknowledge the reality of our numbers –totaling now fewer than three hundred solemnly professed friars, and with so many friars being obliged to wear “too many hats” (too many commitments burdening the shoulders of too few)―we are still resolved to walk bravely into the future, accepting our situation, but not being weighed down by it.
Our week together concluded with a renewed commitment to our shared mission in North America. Now we must ask the question of how and where we can be most effective, building up the Church through our fraternal witness and unique Conventual Franciscan charism.
The meeting coincided with the days of the conclave and the surprising election of an American from Chicago, a missionary, and a fellow religious, we are buoyed up by the Holy Father’s first greeting from the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica, “Peace be with you!” We believe that this peace of Christ, the peace St. Francis sought and offered throughout his life, dispels the darkness of our minds and calms our hearts. It opens us to see the ways that the Lord Jesus works in our lives each day.
Friar Joseph WOOD
