on the 8th Centenary of the Testament and of the Death of St. Francis of Assisi
Dear Brothers,
I am pleased to inform you that, once again, the General Secretariat for Formation is offering an extended online formation course, which will be held every two months, according to the calendar attached to this letter.
As can be immediately seen from the topics covered, the course highlights the recent International Meeting for Lay Brothers, giving resonance to some of the content, so as to involve the whole Order in what was experienced by the delegates of the conferences and other brothers present in Rome at the beginning of November 2024. It is an opportunity to grow in the appreciation of the lay dimension of our vocation.
The other theme focused upon—and it could not be otherwise—is the consideration of what we are experiencing now: the 8th Centenary of the Transitus of the Seraphic Father and the composition of his Testament. Through our experience in today’s world, so rich in potential but at the same time so fragile and wounded, where we yearn for peace but are continually scarred by wars, we are called to sow the Word of Life and bear witness to it in the school of Francis.
The participants are invited to attend the courses regularly. The historical journey will help us to better understand our roots, the richness of goodness that underlies the life of the man who has greatly impacted history for 800 years (including our own personal choices!), and to better appropriate the spiritual heritage that the Church asks us to continue to live.
The path of the Order towards the coming events of 2028 (five hundred years after the “Religionis zelus”, the bull of Pope Clement VII, issued in Viterbo on July 3, 1528, which approved the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin) requires us to build toward it in small steps, grounding it on solid foundations.
I kindly ask the provincials, custodes, and those responsible for formation to ensure that this initiative is made known to the friars and to encourage their active participation, both for ongoing formation and as an opportunity for personal and fraternal growth.
A big thank you to the friars who are generously committed to preparing and implementing this initiative, and to all those who will benefit from it.
And may the blessing of the Lord’s guide your way!
Br. Roberto Genuin
General Minister OFMCap.
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- The course will feature simultaneous translation into Italian, English, Spanish, Portuguese, and French. You can register at the following link: https://form.jotform.com/260302789813359
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