ROME — The April issue of Fraternitas includes reports about two recent assemblies as well as the General Minister’s celebration of the fourth centenary of the death of St. Francis Solanus and announcement of a new Franciscan bishop.
South American Assemblies
The assembly of the Bolivian Conference took place in late February in Lima, Peru. The gathering focused on a summary of activities and the current economic situation of the conference. Secretaries of missions and evangelization also made presentations.
The first week of March marked the assembly of the Brazilian Conference, at which an entire day was dedicated to the study of the document “Bearers of the Gift of the Gospel.”
A letter from General Minister Fr. José Rodríguez Carballo, OFM, was distributed to all attendees at both assemblies.
Celebration of St. Francis Solanus
Fr. José, accompanied by Br. Francisco Javier Arellano, OFM, made a pilgrimage to the Franciscan Betic Province in Montilla, Cordoba, Spain, on Feb. 26. While in Montilla, they visited the house (now a church) where St. Francis Solanus was born.
Fr. José encouraged the sisters at the Convent of Our Lady of Loreto in Seville to “go out as the early missionaries of the Order did … without hindrance and proclaim with their ardor the Good News of Jesus of Nazareth.” He handed out the medal of the eighth centenary of the foundation of the Franciscan Order to the general vicar, pastor and mayor of the city.
New Franciscan Bishop
Pope Benedict XVI appointed Fr. José de Jesús González Hernández, OFM, prelate bishop of Jesus Mary in Nayarit, Mexico. The diocese has more than 100,000 Catholics and 27 priests. Prior to his appointment as bishop, he was rector and pastor of the cathedral church of Inhambane in Mozambique.
This month, the General Minister is traveling to Spain, France, Chile, Russia and Poland.