Franciscan mission leaders from across East Asia gathered in Nagasaki from February 23–27, 2026, for the 2026 East Asia Conference (EAC) Secretaries for Missions and Evangelization Meeting, held at the St. Francis Friary. Rooted in prayer, fraternal dialogue, and shared discernment, the meeting sought to renew Franciscan missionary identity in the light of the Ratio Evangelizationis: Ite in Mundum, the approaching 8th Centenary of the Transitus (Easter) of St. Francis of Assisi, and the Conference’s common commitment to the Nagasaki Mission of Peace Project.
The meeting formally opened with Holy Mass and Morning Prayer at Motohara Church, presided over by Brother Lino Gregorio Redoblado, OFM, President of the East Asia Conference. In his opening homily, Brother Redoblado framed the gathering around three guiding lights: the Gospel mandate Ite in Mundum—“Go into the whole world”; the Easter of St. Francis as a horizon of hope, surrender, and reconciliation; and the shared Franciscan responsibility to witness peace in a world marked by suffering. He emphasized that mission flows first from God, is lived through fraternity and minority, and leads Franciscans to wounded places where peace must be patiently built.
Following the opening liturgy, Brother Nicholas Shin, OFM, of the Province of the Holy Martyrs of Japan, presented the orientation and rationale of the meeting, situating the discussions within the concrete missionary realities of East Asia. Reports from the Franciscan Provinces and Entities of the region followed, reflecting the diverse cultural, religious, and social contexts of mission across Asia.
The meeting brought together representatives of Franciscan Provinces and Entities serving in Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and the Philippines, namely the Province of the Holy Martyrs of Japan; the Province of the Holy Korean Martyrs; the Province of Saint Francis of Assisi in Vietnam; the Province of Mary Queen of China serving Taiwan and Hong Kong; and the Philippine Provinces of San Pedro Bautista and San Antonio de Padua. Through their reports, the brothers shared the joys and challenges of mission lived inter gentes, marked by dialogue, minority, migrant accompaniment, ecological commitment, and daily witness among peoples of different faiths and cultures.
A significant focus of the gathering was the Nagasaki Mission of Peace Project, presented by Brother Francis Furusato, OFM, who highlighted Nagasaki’s enduring significance as a land shaped by martyrdom, atomic devastation, and resilient hope. He emphasized Nagasaki as a privileged place for Franciscan witness to reconciliation, nonviolence, and peace in a world increasingly fractured by conflict and injustice.
The meeting continued with sustained prayer and reflection, including a Lenten homily preached by Brother Pedro Roberto B. Mananzala, OFM, who reflected on the Gospel’s “Sign of Jonah” as a call to conversion and mission. Drawing from Ite in Mundum, he emphasized metanoia—a turning away from comfort and privilege toward humble presence and shared humanity—and reminded the brothers that, for Franciscans, the whole world is the cloister where God is encountered and the Gospel is lived.
The final Entity report was delivered by Brother Nicholas Shin for the Province of the Holy Martyrs of Japan, followed by a review and discussion of the Ratio Evangelizationis facilitated by Brother Jovit M. Malinao, OFM. The discussion underscored the Franciscan call to prioritize presence over projects and credible witness over words in the evangelizing mission of the Church today. Updates on Conference-level formation initiatives and possible collaboration between the Secretariats for Formation and for Missions and Evangelization were later presented by Brother Judee Mar Maquinad, OFM.
A major milestone of the meeting was the presentation of the draft statement of the 2026 Nagasaki Meeting by Brother Angel Cortez, OFM, EAC Secretary. Guided by three key questions on renewing Franciscan missionary identity, strengthening Conference collaboration, and developing the Nagasaki Mission of Peace Project as a shared commitment, the participants engaged in deep reflection and dialogue. The statement, entitled “Witnessing the Gospel in East Asia,” was unanimously approved by the delegates.
The approved statement reaffirmed that mission lies at the heart of Franciscan identity, highlighting fraternity as the first form of evangelization, minority as a source of credibility, contemplative presence as missionary strength, and shared responsibility for peace, formation, and mission ad gentes, with particular emphasis on the Nagasaki Mission of Peace Project as a common Conference commitment.
The meeting concluded with words of gratitude and encouragement from Brother Redoblado, who thanked the host Province, the organizers, and the participants for their spirit of communion and shared mission. Fraternal gatherings hosted by the Japanese brothers further strengthened the bonds of brotherhood among the delegates.
Held in the historically and spiritually charged city of Nagasaki, the 2026 EAC Secretaries for Missions and Evangelization Meeting reaffirmed a shared Franciscan conviction: mission is not merely an activity but a way of life—born from prayer, lived in fraternity and minority, and sent to the peripheries to witness reconciliation, peace, and hope in East Asia.
Read the Final Statement: Italiano – English - Español
