Meeting of Secretariats of Missionary Animation, Evangelization and Cooperation

From October 21 to 26, 2024, representatives of all the Secretariats of Evangelization and Mission of the 12 Capuchin circumscriptions of Brazil gathered at the friary of St. Fidelis da Sigmaringen in the city of Piracicaba (São Paulo). Also present were the CCB liaison for this service, Br. José Nilton Leandro, and the Secretary General for Missionary Animation, Evangelization and Cooperation, Br. Mariosvaldo Florentino.

The days were busy with prayer, study, sharing, reflection and planning for the joint work to be done in the conference. First the participants presented the current state of the missions in each circumscription, then reflected on some aspects of Franciscan missionary theology.

Br. Silvio do Socorro de Almeida Pereira, Vicar General and General Councilor for the CCB, celebrated the opening Mass on the eve of his return to Rome, and two days later gave an online conference highlighting the importance of working together and suggesting some concrete activities we can all do together for Brazil.

Br. Evandro De Souza, provincial minister to whom the II EPAM entrusted the task of accompanying a commission to develop a handbook on the apostolic life of Capuchins in Latin America, was also present and motivated the active participation of all in the development of this document.

The brothers commissioned a small working group with the task of presenting to the next CCB assembly statutes for this secretariat, and a program of joint activities to be carried out in the coming years, around the verbs animate, buildand sustain missions in the conference.

The brothers proposed a “Capuchin Missions Day” if possible, for the whole Order, or at least for Brazil, to be celebrated, for example, on the first Sunday in October. This day would serve to help raise awareness of our missionary charism in all our fraternities and would be conducive toward stimulating solidarity with our missions through real initiatives. In addition, the participants wrote a letter to all Brazilian Capuchins recounting what they have experienced and the proposals they want to implement together to animate the missionary evangelization that we are called to live in the Church. This first meeting of the Secretariats for Missionary Animation, Evangelization and Cooperation of the CCB opened a new horizon for Capuchin missionary work in Brazil.

Thanks to the local fraternity for their hospitality, to the other friars of the Province of São Paulo for all they did, and to all the provincial ministers from Brazil for sending their friars.