Lusaka, ZAMBIA — On May 25, 2026, the Plenary Assembly of the East Africa Conference of Capuchins (EACC) was held at the La Verna Formation House in Lusaka. The one-day meeting brought together participants from across the conference to review ongoing initiatives, assess progress made, and make joint decisions regarding the future of the Order in the region.
Among the key issues discussed were progress reports on the circumscriptions, updates on the preparation of the Ratio Formationis Localis for the EACC, issues that arose from PANAF, the election of delegates to the Ninth Plenary Council of the Order (PCO IX), shared formation houses within the EACC, JPIC initiatives, membership dues to the conference, and the pursuit of self-sustainability.
The participants expressed satisfaction with the overall situation in the circumscriptions, noting that the friars are carrying out their ministries effectively and that no significant difficulties have been reported. However, a concern was raised regarding the challenges posed by certain political situations, which continue to complicate visa renewal applications for some friars who need to travel.
The meeting also reviewed an encouraging report on the preparation of the Ratio Formationis Localis; however, although progress is being made, the participants acknowledged that the process is behind schedule and emphasized the importance of providing support whenever the drafting group requests collaboration.
With regard to PANAF, the assembly acknowledged positive developments but also noted that delays in receiving the requested information remain a challenge. The participants expressed the hope that the General Minister’s recent letter would encourage more timely responses and agreed that the major superiors should continue to encourage the friars to participate actively in the process.
A significant part of the meeting was the election of four EACC delegates who will represent the conference at PCO IX. Their names have been officially submitted to the Secretary General.
In the area of formation, the participants designated Lusaka and Addis Ababa as joint centers for philosophy studies, while Nairobi, Morogoro, and Kampala were confirmed as joint centers for theological formation. These decisions aim to strengthen collaboration and ensure high-quality formation throughout the Conference.
The assembly also reviewed the EACC report on Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) and approved a proposal to convene a JPIC meeting in Nairobi in May 2027.
Discussions on self-sufficiency highlighted the commendable efforts undertaken by individual circumscriptions. However, participants acknowledged that much work remains to be done before full financial self-sufficiency can be achieved. The meeting concluded with a call to intensify efforts toward sustainable development and resource management.