Pan-African meeting of the major superiors of the Friars Minor Capuchin

Abidjan, Ivory Coast, November 7-10, 2016

Que nous soyons un. (That we may be one.) This was the motto of the Pan-African meeting of the Capuchin Friars Minor present in that continent. The Provincial Ministers, Custodes, and Delegates of our presences in Africa met with the General Minister and General Councilors from November 7-10 at our friary in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Following a packed schedule, the participants worked and studied the most important themes for our presence as Capuchin Friars in Africa: mutual awareness, initial and ongoing formation, collaboration between different circumscriptions in initial formation, personnel, and finances. The various topics were introduced with a report which was followed by study and discussion in working groups.

The reports and talks of the participants led to a common wish for the future: identifying an ‘African path’ for living and witnessing to our charism. One of the means to this end is that of intensifying the meetings of the two Conferences of Africa—EACC (Eastern Africa Capuchin Conference) and CONCAO (Conferentia Capuccinorum Africae Occidentalis)—both at the level of the individual conference as well as between the two. Taking up this path will make real demands and the General Minister in his concluding talk pointed these out, encouraging in a particular way the process of collaboration and an intensification of our identity and sense of belonging.

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The work concluded on Thursday, November 10 with a pilgrimage to the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Yamoussoukro. The friars left early, made the pilgrimage through the Holy Door, and visited the Basilica where they concelebrated the Eucharist with Archbishop Joseph Spiteri, Apostolic Nuncio to Ivory Coast. A lunch concluded, in a cordial way, these days marked by joy and hope.

Video

Introduction to the meeting

Detailed photo galleries from Ivory Coast

Pan-African meeting in Abidjan, November 7-10, 2016

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• Abidjan, Sunday Mass
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• Abidjan, The city
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• Alépé, The city
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• Memni city

St. Francis of Assisi Custody of the Capuchin Friars Minor in Ivory Coast - November 2016

1976:    The Capuchin friars arrive in Ivory Coast in the month of December 1976. The General Minister entrusts the mission to the Province of Lombardy (Milan, Italy).

1984:    The mission is proclaimed a Custody on January 1, 1984.

Some numbers to help us get to know the Custody today:

• 3 fraternities:
  • Abidjan-Angré (Diocese of Abidjan): Since 2000 this is the fraternity that welcomes the friars in the final stage of initial formation for theological study or for special or professional formation;
  • Alépé (Diocese of Abidjan): This has been the fraternity of the postulancy since 1992. The friars also operate a hostel for the youth in secondary school and of a parish;
  • Zouan-Hounien (Diocese of Man): In this fraternity all the friars work in a parish that has been entrusted to us since 1981.
• Statistics:
  • 29 friars of which 18 are perpetually professed and 11 are in temporary vows.
  • Of the 29 friars, 7 are missionaries (5 Italians and 2 Cameroonians) and 22 are Ivoirians.
  • Of the 18 perpetually professed, 7 are missionaries and 11 are Ivoirians.