The Capuchin fraternity of Tiaret, Algeria had the privilege of welcoming our General Minister, Br. Mauro Jöhri, for the better part of Holy Week…
The Capuchin fraternity of Tiaret, Algeria had the privilege of welcoming our General Minister, Br. Mauro Jöhri, for the better part of Holy Week and a good half of the Easter Octave. It was a great joy for us, together with the parish community—made up of students from sub-Saharan Africa, far from home, and three sisters, missionaries of Mary from Aïn Séfra—to celebrate Easter with him.
Beyond the areas in which our fraternity works, we took the opportunity of the Minister’s presence to show him the place where the bishop of Oran, Most Rev. Jean-Paul Vesco, OP, would like us to live our charism of welcome: the Aï El Turk house on the seaside, near Oran, where it would be possible to serve at the basilica of Notre Dame de Santa Cruz, a destination for both Christian pilgrims and curious Muslims.
We also had a chance to spend some time at the monastery of Tibhirine, where Christian life is kept alive by the memory of the Trappist monks—as we look forward also to their beatification—and the charism of a Chemin Neuf community.
We believe that our fraternity’s simple life of prayer offered our Minister some time to relax and also to experience how sweet and evangelical is the mission “among the Saracens.” Other friars who would like to have the same experience for a few days or a longer period are welcome to visit us in Algeria.
The Capuchin friars of Tiaret
