On the 5th –14th September, the friars of the Province of Our Lady of the Angels of Krakow in Poland participated in the pilgrimage "In the footsteps of St. Francis", traveling to Italy and visiting, amongst other things, La Verna, Assisi and Rome.
The pilgrimage was made after the Chapter of Mats that took place in Wieliczka on the 2nd August 2024, the day of the patronal feast of the Province. The friars who are confronted with various types of poverty every day were invited to the Chapter of Mats, whose central theme was "Sent by the poor, abandoned and rejected – return to the origins of the charism": Br. Giorgio Kraj OFM, missionary in the Holy Land; Br. Gaspare Kaproń OFM, missionary in Bolivia; Br. Dezyderiusz Pol OFM, chaplain in prison; Br. Alojzy Warot OFM, vice-postulator of the cause of Br. Alojzy Kosiba OFM.
During the Chapter, the cloistered Bernardine nuns spoke of their commitment to the poor who often knock on the door of their convent. The Capuchin friars of Krakow, on the other hand, presented the project of Padre Pio's Work of Aid, which has been helping the needy for many years by involving many volunteers.
The pilgrimage "In the footsteps of St. Francis" was attended by 30 friars from all the friaries of the Province. The first stop was in Venice for a visit to the friary of San Francesco del Deserto. On the same day, the friars visited the Shrine of St. Anthony in Padua, where they celebrated Mass in the basilica dedicated to the Doctor Evangelicus.
In the following days, the friars visited La Verna, the Porziuncola and Assisi. The places related to the life of St. Francis of Assisi and the lectures of Br. Bernard Marciniak OFM helped the participants to relive the spirit of the Seraphic Father.
During the pilgrimage, the friars also went to Greccio, Fonte Colombo and La Foresta, and then went to Rome where they were able to meet the Minister General of the Order, Br. Massimo Fusarelli OFM. During the meeting they spoke about current issues concerning fraternal life, the life of the Province and the Order. The meeting with the successor of St. Francis and the presence in the heart of the Church became the central nuclei of the pilgrimage.
Br. Cyprian Mazurek, OFM
