In Harare, Zimbabwe, the English-Speaking Conference of Africa (ESAC) held its first gathering of formators since it was established as a new Conference. The formation course had nineteen participants of Franciscan brothers journeying in formation and three brothers from the Conference Secretariat for Formation and Studies. The course started on the 8th of September through till the 19th of September 2025. It comprised two intense weeks with different friars and a sister giving the brothers valuable input.
The first speaker was Br Solomon Mphela, OFM, from South Africa, who shared his reflections on Chapters 2 and 3 of our Ratio Formationis Franciscanae. He reminded the participants that all the friars are formators and that they all are called to conversion, and that they should impart human conversion, moral conversion and religious conversion, underlining that everything starts with us.
The second speaker, Sr Isabel Nyasha Mandunguma, CPI, brought attention to the value of finances, starting with personal accountability. Her remarks were very down to earth. She put stress on stewardship, transparency, and accountability, which can help the friars to be true custodians of the finances entrusted to them.
The current Custos of Zimbabwe, Br Fanuel Magwidi, OFM, talked about the reality of Safeguarding of Minors and Vulnerable Adults in Africa. The participants had the time to work on a current case study that helped all present to fully understand the role and importance of Safeguarding in the Church today.
The second week began with Br Darko Tepert, OFM, Secretary General for Formation and Studies, who talked about our charism. He shared the importance of collaboration in formation, with a strong emphasis on the need for collaboration between Formation and Studies, Missions and Evangelisation, and JPIC, that should work together. He ended his contribution by giving some reflections on how to conduct fruitful interviews with the formees and how to prepare the reports with the Ratio Formationis Franciscanae guidelines in mind.
Taking advantage of technology and with the idea of the universality of the Order in mind, the participants had the opportunity to listen to Br Derrick Yap, OFM, the Custos of Singapore, Brunei and Malaysia. He shared his reflection on Being Minors in the Order, reminding the participants that Franciscanism relies on fraternity and minority, which help to overcome clericalism and individuality. This was a Zoom presentation, and the brothers appreciated a view on minority and fraternity from another continent.
The brothers who attended the course were greeted online by the Minister General, Br Massimo Fusarelli, OFM, and the Definitor General for Africa, Br Siphelele Gwanisheni, OFM, who shared with this mostly young group of friars three important aspects of formation:
In general, the course was very fraternal, and the brothers were very accommodating and fully participated in the course, thanks also to the benefactors who made this valuable event possible and allowed them to share their experience of life in formation as friars.
The course concluded with all the brothers receiving a certificate for participating in the Formation of Formators course.
Download Minister General Message: English - Italiano
