Visit of the Minister General to the Province of St. Francis of Assisi

Between the 19th and 21st  April 2026, the fraternal visit of the Minister General, Br. Massimo Fusarelli, OFM, to the Province of St. Francis of Assisi in Brazil took place. The Minister was accompanied by Br. César Külkamp, OFM, Definitor General. 

The visit began on Sunday, the 19th April, when Br. Massimo went in the morning to the Monastery of the Poor Clares of São Damião in Porto Alegre. A meeting with the nuns was held in the monastery, and the Eucharist was celebrated with the community. In the afternoon, he met with the friars responsible for formation and vocation animation. During the meeting, the friars shared some of the realities and challenges of their work and mission with young people and vocations in the southern region of Brazil, which is characterised by a strongly secularised culture. 

In the late afternoon, the Minister General participated in a meeting with representatives of the parishes served by the friars, representatives of Franciscan social works, members of the Secular Franciscan Order and the Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Aparecida. In a fraternal atmosphere, some experiences gained in these areas of presence were shared, together with the perception of the Franciscan charism in these missionary fronts. 

Subsequently, the Minister General presided over the opening Mass of the Franciscan Jubilee Year in the Province of St. Francis of Assisi, which in this year 2026 celebrates the centenary of the arrival of the first Dutch missionaries who founded the Province, and also the fiftieth anniversary of the Province of St. Francis of Assisi. At the end of the Mass, celebrated in the Parish of St. Francis in Porto Alegre, Br. Massimo Fusarelli blessed the "Pilgrim Tau" that will travel to all the Franciscan sites linked to the mission of the Province. After the Eucharistic celebration, a meeting was held in the parish hall with the participation of the whole community. 

On April 20, the Minister General met with all the friars of the Province. The meeting took place at the São João Batista Seminary in Santa Cruz do Sul. At the beginning of the meeting, the friars were welcomed by the Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Santa Cruz do Sul, Msgr. Aloísio Alberto Dilli, OFM. Next, the Minister Provincial, Br. Olávio José Dotto, OFM, presented some aspects of the mission and the challenges of the provincial journey. 

Br. Massimo presented his letter to the friars in response to the Provincial Chapter held in October 2025. Immediately afterwards, the friars met to reflect on the points raised by the Minister General. In an atmosphere of open dialogue, exchanges of hope and encouragement for the continuation of the Franciscan mission took place, considering the need for a re-evaluation, the question of vocations and the different realities and challenges that the Order is facing around the world. The day ended with Mass and the departure of the "Pilgrim Tau" for Uruguay, where the friars have a mission program. 

On April 21, the last day of the visit, the Minister General celebrated the Eucharist at the Fraternity of Mount Alverne, where the elderly and infirm friars reside. After Mass, Br. Massimo and Br. César met with the Provincial Definitory. The visit to the Province ended with a pleasant meeting with the Fraternity at the provincial headquarters.

Leia as notícias em português