ROME — Pope Francis has appointed another Franciscan friar to serve as a bishop. Fr. Joao Muniz Alves, OFM, of the Province of the Assumption BVM in Brazil, was appointed as bishop prelate of Xingu, Brazil, on Dec. 23, according to the Franciscan Order’s website.
Fr. Joao professed vows as a Franciscan in 1986 and was ordained in 1993. He holds a licentiate and doctorate in philosophy from the Pontifical Antonianum University and a doctorate in moral theology from the Pontifical Alphonsianum Academy. He has served in a number of pastoral roles, including parish vicar, deputy master of postulants, parish priest, definitors of the vice-province in Bacabal, Brazil, and as Provincial Councilor, General Visitor and Provincial Minister of the Franciscan Province of Mozambique in Africa.
Fr. Joao currently serves as guardian of the Franciscan community in São Luís, Maranhão, and is parish vicar, formator and a professor of moral theology. He will be ordained bishop on March 5 and installed on April 3.
In other news from the Order, several friars from the Curia joined Pope Francis on Dec. 8 as he celebrated the Mass that opened the Jubilee Year of Mercy. General Minister Fr. Michael Perry, OFM, General Vicar Fr. Julio Bunader, OFM, and other members of the Definitorum were among the large number of concelebrants. Fr. Michael shared a message about the Year of Mercy on the Order’s website. The text is available in several languages.
News from the Franciscan Order also includes:
- Amendments to the General Statutes, including articles 21, 158 and 201
- A day of celebration for the Franciscans participating in COP21
- The Franciscan Educators Conference and Ibero-American Convention held from Nov. 30 to Dec. 3 in Brazil
- “Frati Assisi (Assisi Friars)”, a free app with information about St. Francis and St. Clare, Franciscan prayers, a live feed of the Portiuncula, and other information pertaining to the friars’ activities in Assisi. The app is available for Android and is currently produced in Italian.
A link to the January 2016 issue of Fraternitas, the Order’s monthly newsletter, as well as a variety of photos can be found on the Order’s Facebook page.
— Maria Hayes is communications coordinator for Holy Name Province.
Related Links
- “’Friar’ App Fosters Virtual Franciscan Prayer Group” — Dec. 9, 2015, HNP Today
- “Order’s General Chapter Concludes in Assisi” — June 10, 2015, HNP Today
- “New Franciscan University and Other Updates from the Order” — Dec. 8, 2015, HNP Today