International Commission on Economic Solidarity of the Order

From October 14 to 19, 2024, the annual meeting of the Economic Solidarity Commission was held at the General Curia. There was a great fraternal atmosphere at the meeting as the members worked together at evaluating the requests for economic aid received in 2024 from the different circumscriptions of the Order and from the Capuchin sisters around the world.

The Solidarity Commission is composed of seven friars from around the world, each with a particular level of expertise in the field of economic planning. The tasks of the Solidarity Commission fall into three main categories: Missionary Grants, Initial Formation Grants and Projects. Missionary Grants are intended for mission development in a new territory; Initial Formation Grants are intended to help circumscriptions that are not yet able to sustain their initial formation programs on their own. Finally, Projects generally concern the development of the Order's basic infrastructure in our circumscriptions in need.

All evaluations are conducted according to the criteria of the values of the Order's fraternal economy, and the evaluated projects are then presented to the General Minister and his Council, who are responsible for reflecting on them and making decisions.The meeting concluded with a pilgrimage to La Verna on Saturday, Oct. 19, marking the 800th centenary of the gift of the Stigmata of St. Francis of Assisi. 

The Commission includes the following friars:

Br. James Boner, Delegation of Great Britain 

Br. Louis Cinq-Mars, Province of Eastern Canada

Br. Mario Dias, Province of Tanzania

Br. Nitin D'Souza, Province of Maharashtra

Br. Anton Podgorny, Custody of Ukraine (not present this year due to the war)

Br. Benyamin Purba, Province of Medan

Br. Roberto Ramirez, Province of Perù

The Commission is directed by the following friars from the General Curia:

Br. Aklilu Patros, Promoter of Solidarity, Province of Ethiopia

Br. Justino Sánchez Durán, Secretary of Solidarity, Custody of Mexico

Br. Fergnan da Conceição da Silva, Solidarity Collaborator, Province of Maranhão-Pará-Amapá, Brazil