On 21 July 2025, the feast of St. Lawrence of Brindisi, a new fraternity called “Convento Camerino“, which becomes part of the St Lawrence of Brindisi International Fraternities project, was inaugurated. The Eucharist, held in St Joseph’s Chapel of the Capuchin Poor Clares in Alamo, Texas, was presided over by Mgr. Mario Avilés, C.O., Auxiliary Bishop of Brownsville.
This fraternity takes its name from the small town in the Marches region of Italy, site of the first friary of the Capuchin Reform in 1528, with the hope of living the spirit of ongoing conversion that inspired our founding brothers and saints.
The members who make up the local fraternity are Br. William Kraus, Br. Thomas Faiola, Br. Ángel Ríos García and Br. Nikolas Barth, coming from different parts of the United States and Mexico. The celebrations were also attended by Brothers from Rome, Mexico City, California, Pittsburgh, Dallas, Fort Worth and Monterrey, together with the Capuchin Poor Clares who played host, Lumen Christi Missionary Catechists and people connected with the Brothers of the Alamo community. After Mass in the chapel of our Capuchin sisters, the celebrations moved to the Convento Camerino for the blessing of the new friary by Br. Aldo Fabricio Muñoz Martínez, Custos of the Custody of Mexico-Texas. The participants then enjoyed a simple and warm reception, which provided the local fraternity with much enthusiasm to embark on this new adventure. Aware of the flexibility required of any new religious community, we dare to hope that the brothers involved will be able to respond to the needs of the local Church with an eye towards the poor and marginalised, especially the migrants. The brothers involved in this new fraternity expressed themselves as follows: “our life is meant to be a simple testimony for those around us to God’s gracious love revealed most fully in the gift of His Incarnate Son, Jesus Christ”.
Let us pray for our brothers so that they may live according to the Rule and Testament of St Francis and our Constitutions, embodying the pillars of our life: prayer, fraternity, minority and mission.