The 2nd Enlarged Assembly of the Conference of Friars Minor of Brazil and the Southern Cone brought together 82 friars from twelve entities of the Order of Friars Minor present in Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Paraguay. The meeting took place with the motto "Friars Minor, Pilgrims of Hope", the meeting brought to Argentina the Ministers and Custodians of the participating entities, as well as the friars responsible for the Evangelization and Mission Services, Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation, Educational Pastoral Care and also for Formation and Studies, Ongoing Formation and Vocation Animation Service. This year the Secretaries of all entities have also been summoned. Present and accompanied throughout the meeting were the Definitor General for Latin America, Br. César Külkamp, and the Secretary General, Br. Antonio Maria Iacona, who came from Rome, Italy.
In addition to being a special occasion for the meeting between the friars involved in the various services, the Assembly is a moment of prayer, reflection, reporting on the activities carried out and presenting proposals and plans for the future. In a first moment of sharing and presentation, each entity had the opportunity to present its evangelizing mission through the analysis of strengths, weaknesses, and challenges. An opportunity to nurture hope through the exchange of experiences, sharing joys and concerns. Amongst the common challenges identified, the numerical decrease, the economic sustainability of fraternities and mission, downsizing and restructuring, the accompaniment of entities and the question of the weakening of the sense of mission and the sense of belonging to the fraternity were highlighted.
Speaking via videoconference directly from Rome, the Minister General, Br. Massimo Fusarelli, stressed that "Latin America, with all its challenges, continues to be a land of hope for the Church and the Order," where the Franciscan charism "can flourish with its own characteristics, contributing to the worldwide mosaic of our fraternity." The Minister encouraged the friars to be attentive to the appeals of the present moment, taking into account the Jubilee 2025 and the Eighth Centenary of the Canticle of the Creatures.
Recalling the Order's journey, the Minister also presented some concrete paths for strengthening the Conference: To promote more interprovincial collaboration; Simplifying structures; Renewing Formation; Listening to the new generations; Strengthening the social dimension of the Charism and Revitalizing Franciscan synodality.
The Secretary General for Formation and Studies, Br. Darko Tepert, the Secretary General for Mission and Evangelization, Br. Francisco Gómez, and the Heads of the General Offices for Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation, Br. Daniel Rodríguez Blanco, and for the Protection of Minors, Br. Yuri Senko, also addressed a message by videoconference to the assembled assembly.
In the meeting regarding the sector on animation, the various services met to evaluate the path of the three-year period and plan future steps. They also chose the animators to coordinate the progress of the Conference over the next three years. The following friars have been elected for conference services for the next three years:
President: Fr. Fernando Aparecidos dos Santos (Custodia Sacro Cuore - Brasile)
Vice-President: Br. Lino Miranda (Prov. Holy Trinity - Chile)
Secretary: Br. Rogerio Lopes (Prov. San Antonio - Brazil)
Economy
Provincial delegate accompanist: Br. Paulo Pereira (Prov. Immaculate Conception - Brazil)
Bursar: Br. Robson Scudella (Prov. Immaculate Conception - Brazil)
Secretariat for Evangelization
Delegated Minister:Br. Carlos Da Silva (Prov. Holy Name - Brazil)
Animator: Br. Eduardo Schiehl (Prov. Sacred Heart - Brazil)
Assistant animator: Br. Alberto Nahuelanca (Prov. Holy Trinity - Chile)
JPIC Commission
Animator: Joao Paulo Gabriel (Prov. Sacred Heart - Brazil)
Assistant animator: Br. Alejando Verón (Prov. Our Lady of the Assumption of the Rio de la Plata - Argentina)
Secretary: Br. Julio Campos (Prov. Holy Trinity - Chile)
Secretariat for Education
Accompanying Minister: Br. Emilio Andrada (Prov. Our Lady of the Assumption of the Rio de la Plata - Argentina)
Animator: Br. Victor Vinicius da Silva (Prov. Santa Croce - Brazil)
For the President-elect, Br. Fernando Aparecido, the Conference, established three years ago, is gradually adapting to the new international reality, characterized by the difference in languages, Portuguese, and Spanish, and by the cultural integration between the different countries that compose it. "We will follow up on what has already begun, promoting in the Conference a space for animation, cooperation, communion and, above all, a response to the appeals of our charism in these realities that are entrusted to us both in the Southern Cone and in Brazil," emphasized Fr. Fernando. The Definitor General for Latin America, Br. César Külkamp, recalled that the Conferences, of which there are 15 in the world in total, represent an important instance of animation for the life of the entities of the Order of Friars Minor. "The Order needs the Conferences to grow more and more in participation and a spirit of communion, so that the mission of the whole Order can become more present through the witness of every brother who lives in different parts of our world," he pointed out.
The following entities are part of the Conference of Brazil and the Southern Cone:
These entities include 920 friars.
