From the 11th - 15th February 2025 extraordinary International fraternal and pastoral visit took place in South Africa. It was carried out by the Minister General of OFS, Tibor Kauser who was accompanied by the President of the Council of CIOFS Eremenciana Chiyama, OFS, and the General Spiritual Assistant Br. Pedro Zitha, OFM. After clarifying some questions with regard to the identity of the Order of the Secular Franciscans they visited the Bishops of the Diocese as follows:
After the visit they went back to Gauteng to the Catholic Croation Church were mass was celebrated together with the renewal of promises. There followed the meeting with the Secular Franciscans.
They met Card. Stephen Brislin, the Apostolico Nuncio Henryk Mieczyslaw Jagodzinski and finally Mons. Dario Pavisa.
Lastly, they had a meeting with Br. Siphelele Gwanisheni, the Minister Provincial of OFM so as to deepen with him on how the ministers of the three Orders can work together as a conference so as to enable the OFS of Kwazulu Natal region come to realize that OFS, is an Order in the Church and not confraternity and enable the brothers of the first Order to consider OFS as their priority in their ministry.
The bishops appreciated the decision of the visitators to meet. They expressed their disappointment that in some diocese the OFS are not known officially. They took the observation made by the bishops adding that it was one of the motives that made them decide to meet them so as to make them aware of OFS identity, unity and their service in the Church. Together with their visitators they committed themselves to send the program of formation so as to deepen the OFS of South Africa. They asked the bishops to commit themselves to inform the OFS fraternity that their members are no longer authorized to wear a habit. They are to orient them to the fact that they should were in common a Franciscan TAU. It is a recommendation to the members of OFS in all levels to make themselves known in parishes where the fraternity lives, operates and also asking the bishops the possibility of asking the diocesan priests who accompany them officially or non-officially in their parishes, to participate at formation workshops so as to understand and have a knowledge who secular Franciscans are in their parishes. This is in the view also of facilitating the future appointment of spiritual assistants of OFS from among the diocesan priests who always render their services to them because to small number of the friars who are now few.
The visitors acknowledged the fact that they are many challenges that the International OFS fraternity of South Africa faces, to change the mentality and the attitude of their member patience, courage and prayers are needed. They were optimistic and sure that with proper formation of OFS members the situation might change. Lastly the visitators expressed their deep thanksgiving to the national assistants for their commitment and dedication.
Br. Pedro Zitha, OFM
