The Extraordinary Pastoral and Fraternal Visit to the five Canonically erected fraternities of the Secular Franciscan Order (OFS) and YouFra in Ethiopia, which are still qualified as a “Presence” according to the CIOFS regulations for the establishment of OFS fraternities in the Order, was held from 16-26 August 2025 by the Presidency Councilor of English and Portuguese African countries, Emerenciana Chinyama, OFS and the representative of the Conference of General Spiritual Assistants, Br. Pedro Zitha, OFM.
The Presidency Councilor had the joy of receiving the Profession of nine OFS members of the Sacred Heart fraternity in Addis Ababa. Afterwards, the visitators moved to the city of Konto at the Capuchin friary of Our Lady of Loreto Mariam Parish Church in Wolaita Soddo, where they began the program with the celebration of the Holy Mass presided over by the Apostolic Vicariate of Soddo in the Southern Ethiopia Region, Bishop Dejene Hidoto, OFMCap. This was followed by the welcoming ceremony of the CIOFS delegates in the hall by the Bishop, OFS, and YouFra. Then, the formation workshop began, and in the afternoon, the election of the new local Council took place.
The visitation continued to another town, Dubbo, where the delegates met with the OFS and YouFra for a formation workshop, the admission of YouFra members, the profession of OFS members, and the election of the local council. All these celebrations culminated in the celebration of the Holy Mass, followed by the departure to another town, Meganasse, at the Novitiate house, where the visitators met the friars and novices. They then began the visit to two OFS local fraternities: that of St. Claire and Kidanemeheret (which means the Arch of the Covenant) and the YouFra. It is also worth noting that here at the novitiate is where the OFS formally and structurally began in Ethiopia, at the strong request of then Minister General Mauro Jöhri, OFMCap, during the Provincial Elective Chapter in 2012.
