MONTREAL, Canada — The Province of St. Joseph has created a new bilingual website. The colorful site is available in both English and French.
It offers information about a variety of topics including:
· Mission
· Contemplation, including Franciscan prayers
· Fraternity, a description of the province
· Vocation, called “Become a Franciscan”
· Francis of Assisi, the founder of the Franciscans
· Link to the province’s Facebook page “Franciscains de L’Est du Canada”/ “Franciscans of Eastern Canada”
· Blogs by four friars
The website was announced last month by Fr. Roland Bonenfant, OFM, director of public relations for the province, who wrote in an email that he welcomes comments about the site by phone 450-562-3655 and email.
The province, based in Montreal, is one of two Franciscan provinces in Canada. The other — Christ the King — is based in Edmonton, Alberta.
Last year, the OFM English-speaking Conference held its autumn meeting in Montreal. Provincial Minister John O’Connor, OFM, joined Fr. Marc LeGoanvec, OFM, of the eastern Canadian province, and other provincial ministers at the meeting.
The new website quotes the Gospel of Luke — “Whatever house you enter, first say ‘Peace be to this house’. Carry no purse, no bags, no sandals. You are to proclaim the Kingdom of God” — in reference to the Province’s emphasis on the Franciscan values of poverty and “love … for the poor and for people of all cultures, origins and religions” in their missionary work.