General Minister

From December 22 to 28, 2024, the General Minister Br. Roberto Genuin made a visit to our friars in Belarus, accompanied by the General Councilor, Br. Marek Miszczyński.

The main purpose of his visit to this country where Capuchins are one of the most numerous religious communities was to get to know personally the friars of the Custody of Belarus. As he himself emphasized, “I wanted to feel and understand the reality in which the Capuchins are close to the local population.”

During his visit to the houses, each of the friars had the opportunity to share with him their own experiences of vocation and ministry. The General Minister heard many expressions of gratitude from the faithful for the work and presence of the Capuchins. He also learned of the difficult events in the history of Belarus and the Capuchin activity in its territory. During his meetings with bishops of the Belarusian Catholic Church, he heard words of gratitude and hopes for more fruitful cooperation between the Capuchin friars and the local Church.

An important event was the reception of a Capuchin delegation at the administration of the Commissioner for Religions and Nationalities of Belarus, Alexander Rumak.

“I am grateful to God for the friars who live here and bear witness to the Gospel, and I ask God for many graces so that many young people will accept the Lord's invitation to follow him on the path of St. Francis, on the path of life that characterizes us," said the Minister General at the end of his visit to Belarus.

Because of World War II and the change of borders, the Capuchins were forced to move to Poland. At that time only two friars remained there; many years later, starting in 1990, a regular presence by the friars of the Warsaw Province became possible.

Here are some highlights: in 1995 the Apostolic Nuncio in Belarus, Archbishop Agostino Marchetto, consecrated the church in Dokshytsy placing there the first Capuchin friary built from scratch. In 1997 the Vice-Province of Belarus was established having as patron our Blessed Honorat Kozminski, which after 2012 became a Custody. In 2023 the church and friary of St. Francis was consecrated in the Kopishce district of Minsk, where the Custody of Belarus is located. In addition to Minsk and Dokshytsy, Capuchins also exercise their ministry in Molodechno, Slonim, Smolevichy, and Lipishky.

Published in Polish by the Catholic News Agency KAI-Poland: https://serwiskai.pl/depesza/658950/