What the missionary say about Brussels

At the end of the last session of our Inter-Franciscan Missionary Program (IFMP) the participants made their recommendations about the program. I publish some of them, without giving names. The question they answered was: “Do you have anything to suggest to the general secretaries of mission?” • Maybe the duration could be prolonged or done in 2 phases so as to avoid rushing or over-feeding. • It’s a pity that such a useful course is attended by such a small group of friars - due to expenses. Maybe it could be given in different locations (continents) to avoid transport expenses and accommodate more friars of the continent... • Ask the mission secretaries of each province of the Order to participate in this program. Make this compulsory. • Suggest secretaries for the missions in different entities who haven’t done a course in missiology to be attending/ to attend the course. it’s enriching for the province’s mission animation. • Introduce sessions on : Public Relations (PR); Communication (Media, website); How to be a missionary in Europe. • If you add some more subjects it would be good: ecumenism, human trafficking, public media introduction. • Topics for the future: one week for mass-media, communication with journalist, make own website, radio, Tv; how to find donations, communication with people who want to help own project. • A good news letter (semiannual or quarterly) of the IFMP be published and distributed among the franciscan Orders, Poor Clares, SFO, Youfra and other interested parties, so that we can promote and inform the missionary spirit of the franciscan family to the whole world. Also invite SFO, Franciscan Sisters, lay missionaries to study here in the IFMP. • All missionaries has to attend the course.

Br. Mauro visits Missionary Course

On November 14th the General Minister Br. Mauro visited the Missionary Course in Brussels. 12 friars from the first Order (among them 7 Capuchins) studied and discussed in English the challenges of a Franciscan mission today. The 3-month program started at the beginning of September and ended with a visit to Rome and Assisi. “Transcultural self-perception and perception of the other”, “Franciscan Mission Theology and History”, “Asian and African Culture”, “Mission at the service of the Kingdom of Justice, Peace & Ecology”, “Fraternal economy” and “Leadership” where some of the courses given by Friars from the 1st Order and some lay persons. For the Capuchins, Br. Bill Frigo from the Calvary Province in the US was a member of the steering committee. Br. Mauro Jöhri listened carefully to the experiences of the participants. For most of them it was the first experience of deep reflection about Franciscan mission. “I recognize that I have made many mistakes” one friar said.

The following brothers have participated: Isaac Kalluvettamkuzhil, ofmcap, and Lawrence K. Nadar George, ofmcap (St. Francis Province, Kerala, India, for GHANA), Fernand Winnibold Victor, ofmcap, (Karnataka, India, working in NORTH-EAST INDIA), Kilukkan Laiju, ofmcap, (St. Thomas Province, Kerala, India, working in Malawi), Robert Maxim Nazareth, ofmcap, (Karnataka, India, working in UGANDA), Ewald Nangay, ofmcap, and Benedict Mtena, ofmcap, (Tanzania, working in SOUTH-AFRICA).
Adam Klag, ofmconv, (Poland for UGANDA), Banda Ferdinand Masauso, ofmconv, and Mutale Cornelius, ofmconv, (Zambia), Eufrosino Solibar (YOSI), ofm, (Philippines for MAROCCO), Alfonso P., ofm, (Italy for FAR EAST).

The next course in French will be from February 27 to May 22nd, 2012 in Brussels. (Registrations before December 15th). Next course in English: 3rd September to 27th November 2012.

Missionaries visit Assisi

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Formation Missionnaire Interfranciscain

Nous étions 7 frères franciscains et capucins provenant du Congo Kinshasa, Congo Braza, Bolivie, Haiti, à participer de la session des Formation Missionnaire Interfranciscain, à Bruxelles. Nous avons bien été accueillis à la Fraternité Notre Dame des Nations.

Moi-même, entré au seminaire, avec le désir d’être missionnaire, à l’âge d’onze ans, me voici maintenant missionaire en Haiti. Et quelle chance, après 4 ans en mission en Haiti je reçoie comme un cadeau de l’Ordre des Capucins la possibilité de participer à une session de formation pour des missionnaires, à Bruxelles. Frère Didier nous a très bien éclairé sur la Mission dans le Nouveau Testament. D’autres intervenants nous ont invité à réfléchir sur l’approche des autres réligions et d’autres cultures et la « Rencontre » d’autres croyants avec une expérience de Dieu différente de la notre mais aussi valide. Une formation intensive cloturée par une semaine de pélérinage et retraite à la surce de notre charisme franciscain à Assise et d’autres lieux franciscains. Nous avons reçu une grande richesse qui est lá pour être méditée et intégrée dans nos vies et nos rélations entant que missionnaires.

Pour moi, d’abord, « une rémise en question », par une rélecture de ma propre pratique, du régard posé sur la réalité, de la façon d’approcher les personnes, des méthodes et du langage utilisé. Mais aussi des convictions a rénouveller et à affermir, par exemple : « … devenir disciple et missionnaire, conscience du trésor porté en des vases d’argile, … vous m’appellez maître et Seigneur… faites comme j’ai fait pour vous… » etc… Et puis, la conscience de que la Mission est, avant tout, la RENCONTRE de l’autre par le chemin de l’amour et aussi, qu’il est important de marcher ensemble vers Dieu. Merci à l’Ordre des Capucins pour ce cadeau béni. Il reste maintenant de se laisser transformer pour devenir des meilleurs témoins de l’amour du Seigneur pour l’humanité.

Frère Lori Antonio Vergani

* 1957, Caxias do Sul - RGS – Brésil,
Responsable de la Mission des Capucins en Haiti

Course for Mission

On September 1st started a new session of our “Course for Mission” in Brussels. The three General secretaries for missionary animation welcomed 11 friars from the 1st Order to reflect until the end of November about our Franciscan mission.
Among the missionaries are three Capuchins from India, called to serve in different parts of Asia.

Br. Bill Frigo from the Calvary Province (USA) represents the Capuchins in the coordination team. He will work together with Br. Vicente Imhof OFMConv (Germany-Peru) and the new appointed team from the OFM. Br. GIANFRANCESCO SISTO (Italy – Kenya) and Br. DIDIER VAN HECKE (France - Belgium). The program includes cultural and academic sessions. It pretends also to be a spiritual process and finishes with a pilgrimage to the Franciscan places in and around Assisi and a guided retreat.

The participants are:
Br. ALUTULI Abraham OFMConv (Zambia), Br. KAYULA Timothy Mpaluka OFMConv (Zambia), Br. KANIYAMPARAMBIL Shaji Mathew OFMConv (India), Br. AROTTAPPURAM NICLOVOSE Vinu OFMConv (India), Br. FRANCIS ASSIS Edwin Monis OFMCap (India) , Br. VELAYAPPILLIL Mathai Paily RENNY OFMCap (India), Br. KATTA Melkiyore OFMCap (India), Br. NERI Giuseppe BEPPE OFM (Italy), Br. BETO Timoteus Titus Petrus OFM (Indonesia), Br. GOLHA Masseo Patrik OFM (Slovakia), Br. KWIATNOWSKI Lukasz OFM (Poland)


(Standing from left to right:) Br. Benjamin, Br. Vincent, Br. Bill, Br. Beppe, Br. Helmut, Br. Abraham, Br. Renny, Br. Beto, Br. Didier, Br. Edwin, Br. Patrik, Br. Massimo, Br. Lukasz.
(First row f.l.t.r.:) Br. Jan Lan, Br. Melkiyore, Br. Timothy, Br. Gianfrancesco.


The coordinators


Visit to Brussels


First session


In the refectory

Bruxelles - Brussels 2008

The French program at Brussels just finished at the end of May.

The five Capuchins participating at the course were:

Br. Damiano ANGELUCCI (Italy), Br. Francis BASANI (India), Br. Grzgorz SWIDERSKI (Polonia), Br. Jacek DYBALA (Polonia), Br. Jean Ndolo MOBENZA (Congo).

Br. Aubert BERTRAND served as the Coordinator on behalf of the Capuchins. He was very much appreciated as valuable resource person by all the participants. Thank you very much for offering your time and your experience!

The next course of our formation program for missionaries will be done in English from 30^th August to 23^rd November 2008.

The course is meant for all those brothers who are preparing to leave their own culture and to go to a “Mission” (it is applicable also to those going from South India to North India, or those going to Europe). It is not designed for those who go only for a short experience. They should go for some years. The past has shown, that participation was more fruitful for those who had already made an experience in a specific mission area. So we specially invite Missionaries who recently started working in the “Mission”.

Formation program for Missionaries in French

Brussels 2007 English group

The next course of our formation program for missionaries will be done in French from 3 March to 30 May 2008.
It is meant for all those brothers who are preparing to leave their own culture and to go to a “Mission” (it is applicable also to those going from South India to North India, or those going to Europe). It is not designed for those who go only for a short experience. They should go for some years. The past has shown, that participation was more fruitful for those who had already made an experience in a specific mission area. So we specially invite Missionaries who recently started working in the “Mission”. The condition is knowledge of the French language.

Le prochain cours formation pour les nouveaux missionnaires sera donné en français, du 3 mars au 30 mai 2008.
Ce cours est destiné à tous les frères qui se préparent à laisser leur culture et à aller en « mission ». «Cela vaut aussi pour ceux qui vont du sud au nord de l’Inde ou en Europe». Ce cours n’est pas fait pour ceux qui partent seulement pour un court séjour, mais pour ceux qui partent pour quelques années. Sont invités aussi les missionnaires qui ont commencé à travailler en «mission». Une condition: connaître le français.

Équipe de la formation :

fr. Damien Isabell ofm (coordinateur) du USA
fr. Benoît Michel Amoussou, ofm du Benin
fr. Aubert Bertrand OFMCap du Quebec

Participants :

OFM

1.Loris (Luigi) d’Alessandro Sicile (Italie) Congo Brazza
2. Carlo Omar Duran Vasquez El Salvador Haiti

OFMCap

3. Francis Basani VP Andhra Pradesh, India Svizzerland
4. Jean Ndolo Movenza GVP Congo Congo
5. Kizito Sido Mbay GVP Congo Congo
6. Damiano Angelucci PR Marche, Italy Benin
7. Jacek Dybała PR Warsaw, Poland Gabon
8. Grzegorz Świderski PR Warsaw, Poland Gabon