The following updates summarize news from the English-speaking Conference of the Order of Friars Minor, comprising of provinces and custodies from Canada, England, Ireland, Lithuania, Malta, and the United States. Follow the ESC on Facebook and Twitter for up-to-date information throughout the month.
► The provincial councils of the US-6 provinces are meeting near St. Louis this week to continue discussions regarding the Revitalization and Restructuring Process. This is the first in-person meeting the councils have had since the May 30 vote in which members of the US-6 provinces voted to form one new Franciscan entity. Updates will be available on USFranciscans.org.
► USFranciscans has launched a new YouTube channel. Click here to view its first videos – the simple profession of five novices at the interprovincial novitiate and two videos from the recent SPUTY gathering.
► Recent submissions in the #FriarFriday series include “Nice and Oppressive: A Conflict in Nakedness Before God” by Ramoncito Razón, OFM, “A Personal Story of Racism” by Jim McIntosh, OFM, and “Missionary Work Among the Navajos” by Jose Gutay, OFM, a missionary with the Navajo Nation in the U.S. Southwest.
► The California Catholic Conference of Bishops’ Ad Hoc Committee on the Environment was recently presented with “Creativity and Conversation: Evangelization in Light of Laudato Si’,” a commentary by Br. Keith Douglass Warner, OFM, of Santa Clara University. In the article, Br. Keith urges the Church to respond to the pope’s call to protect and care for the environment in his encyclical.
► On Aug. 15, the feast of the Assumption of Our Lady, five OFM novices received the Franciscan habit at the interprovincial novitiate in Killarney, Co Kerry, Ireland. Two men were from the Western Canada Province, one from the Dutch province, and two from the Irish province. A TOR novice from Sweden was also received.
— Maria Hayes is communications coordinator for Holy Name Province.
Related Links
- “ESC Update: Religious Archivists Gather for Inaugural Conference” – July 25, 2018, HNP Today
- “Order Update: General Minister Releases Follow-up Letter to Plenary Council” – Aug. 8, 2018, HNP Today