The Capuchins in the Americas Celebrate Pan-American Meeting II

The 2nd Capuchin Pan-American Meeting began on February 4, 2024, at the Pinares Retreat House in Bogota, Colombia. About 60 friars from all over the Americas participated in this second meeting, where they shared about the current situation regarding the mission, the training, the locations and the collaboration between the Capuchin circumscriptions throughout all of the Americas.

During the meeting there were presentations on themes that arose from the document A Breath of Life. There were also consultations, group discussions and sharing in the entire assembly. Among the specific topics on the agenda were: the reception and implementation of the Ratio Formationis, evaluations of the Schola Fratrum, comparisons and exchanges of experiences from the St. Lawrence of Brindisi Fraternities.

In 2022, the first Pan-American Meeting of the Capuchins took place in Brazil. In preparation for this significant event, several online sessions were held for the friars to discuss topics pertinent to our apostolic and missionary life.

The meeting was born from a desire of the General Minister, Br. Roberto Genuin, which he expressed in his first circular letter of 2019, when he proposed it as a theme for reflection for all the Capuchins of the Americas, which at the time consisted of four Conferences and now has been reduced to three.

The 2nd Pan-American Meeting presented the fruits of the first and continued the work of collaboration and evangelization in the Americas by paving the way through ongoing dialogue and reflection. The organization of this meeting was a breath of life for the friars and an impetus for a deeper living of our Capuchin Franciscan charism in the variety of environments in which we are present.

The meeting concluded on Sunday, February 11, 2024.