Strengthening our missionary charism, starting from the Gospel and based on our Capuchin identity.
During the week of June 20-27, 2024, the brothers responsible for the Secretariat for Evangelization and Missionary Animation of the CCH Conference met in Cartago, Costa Rica. This meeting was crucial to strengthen mission, starting from the Gospel and based on our Capuchin identity.
Br. Mariosvaldo Florentino, General Secretary for Evangelization, Animation and Missionary Cooperation, invited reflection on the theology of mission, highlighting the centrality of God and the role of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit as guides for our work of evangelization. In addition, the apostolic method of Jesus and the Franciscan model of mission were explored, emphasizing the importance of living our apostolate/mission from our values of fraternity, minority, contemplation and service to the poor.
The meeting was an opportunity to get to know and value the different missionary realities of the circumscriptions of the Conference, reflecting on possible concrete actions to continue strengthening these realities.
At the end of the meeting, the brothers summarized their work with three points that will be the focus of the work of the secretariats within the circumscriptions of this Latin American Conference:
1-Animation: strengthen the fraternity and minority of local secretariats, essential pillars for our witness among those most in need. Use the various means of communication to spread the apostolate and works of evangelization, continually challenging ourselves toward mission.
2-Formation: encourage the formation of our brothers for the mission Ad Gentes and Inter Gentes, for the new evangelization and for ordinary evangelization in the Capuchin style. Ongoing formation should include specific content on our apostolic and missionary life. Collaborate with formators so that missionary experiences are promoted in all stages of initial formation.
3-Support: We recognize the importance of supporting missionary vocations, not only financially and materially, but also spiritually, in line with our Capuchin Franciscan spirituality. We consider it vital to organize fundraising activities to support our missionary initiatives and the Order’s solidarity fund.
The meeting strengthened the bonds among the brothers of the secretariat and reaffirmed the commitment to evangelization and mission, recognizing the vital importance of continuing to work in unity and fraternity to carry out the mission of the Capuchin Franciscan Order in the contexts of the circumscriptions of CCH.