A few of our Capuchin brothers accompanied the Secular Franciscan Order of the USA at their quinquennial congress (“the Q”) held July 29-Aug. 2 in Lexington, Ky. Br. Samuel Fuller, provincial spiritual assistant to the Secular Franciscans, was in attendance, as was Br. James Donegan, who was representing and promoting the mission of Franciscans International, a non-profit that advocates for human rights at the United Nations. They fraternized with Br. John De La Riva of the Our Lady of Angels Province, who is national spiritual assistant to the Secular Franciscan Order, and Br. Jerome Schroeder of the St. Joseph Province.

“This gathering comes at a particularly grace-filled moment, as the global Franciscan family continues to celebrate the Jubilee Year of St. Francis and the 800th anniversaries that mark the final years of his earthly life,” stated the planning committee for the congress on its website. The theme of the congress was “Easter of St. Francis: Rekindle the Flame.” The congress aimed to offer vocational renewal through prayer, liturgy, and shared reflection; community through the gathering of professed brothers and sisters from every region of the Order in the U.S.; a national perspective on the life and mission of the Secular Franciscans in the United States; and a joyful celebration of their Franciscan identity during the year of jubilee.