Missionaries – Pilgrimage to Assisi



The present Interfranciscan course for Missionaries in French language will finish with a pilgrimage to Assisi. The 7 missionaries together with the staff arrive Saturday May 14th at Rome. After a short visit to the city they will move to Assisi and visit the Franciscan places.
On MAy 29th ends the 3 months course that tries to work on a Franciscan approach to mission.

Brussels // Bruxelles // Inscription open for English session 2010


The next course of our formation program for missionaries will be done in English from 30th August to 26th November 2011.

It is meant for all those brothers who are preparing to leave their own culture and to go to a “Mission”. The past has shown, that participation was more fruitful for those who had already made an experience in a specific mission area. So we specially invite Missionaries who recently started working in the “Mission”. The session wants to be an interactive workshop and not so much an academic teaching. But we would expect also some reading. The condition is knowledge of the English language.

Le prochain cours formation pour les nouveaux missionnaires sera donné en anglais, du 30 HaoûtH au 26 novembre 2011.

Ce cours est destiné à tous les frères qui se préparent à laisser leur culture et à aller en « mission ». «Cela vaut aussi pour ceux qui vont du sud au nord de l’Inde ou en Europe». Sont invités aussi les missionnaires qui ont commencé à travailler en «mission». Une condition: connaître le anglais.


Il prossimo corso per la formazione dei nuovi missionari in inglese avrà luogo dal 30 agosto al 26 novembre 2011.

Il corso è destinato a tutti quei frati che si preparano a lasciare la propria cultura e ad andare in una “Missione” (termine che è applicabile anche a coloro che vanno dall’India del Sud nell’India del Nord o a coloro che vanno in Europa). I missionari con una certa esperienza nel paese della loro missione hanno potuto profittare meglio del corso. Invitiamo per questo specialmente i missionari che hanno cominciato di recente a lavorare in “Missione”. Condizione è che conoscano il inglese.

Four Capuchin Missionaries reflect about Franciscan Mission today


From left to right: Br. Jean Francois OFM, Guardian; Br. Benjamin, OFM; Br. Benoît – Michel, OFM; Br. Harry Joseph OFMCap, Burkina Faso; Br. Jean Lân, OFM; Br. Kizito Sido OFMCap; Br. Daniel Stelmaszek OFMCap, Gabon; Br. Honoré Mosala OFMCap; Br. Aubert Bertrand OFMCap; Br. Damien Isabell, OFM


BRUSSELS. Four Capuchins take part in the missionary formation program in Brussels. The French session started at the beginning of March in the international OFM-Community at Brussels. Br. Aubert Bertrand OFMCap took the role of Animator, together with Br. Damien OFM and the other friars who form the fraternity of “Our Lady of the Nations”. The program aims to foster reflection about Franciscan mission in today’s world. The participants study Mission History and Theology, Franciscan Theology and Spirituality of Mission, Intercultural Community Building, Inter-religious Dialogue in Africa and Asia, Cultural Shock, the role of the Word of God in Mission, Fraternal Economy, Franciscan Leadership, Formation and animation of Small Christian Communities, Self-Knowledge and Mission, etc.
Br. Harry Joseph comes from the province of Tamil Nadu. Since 2003 he has been part of our presence in Burkina Faso. Br. Daniel Stelmaszek comes from the province of Warsaw and has been serving the Church in Gabon since December 2006. Br. Honoré Mosala and Br. Kizito Sido are members of the Vice province of Congo. At present Br. Honoré is serving in the neighbouring country of Congo-Brazzaville. Br. Kizito worked at Pointe-Noire for one year.

Br. Mauro Jöhri will visit the program during Holy week.

The next session will be held in English from August 30th to November 21st 2010.

Brussels / Bruxelles / Bruselas 2010 Inscriptions open

English/ Français / Italiano

Le prochain cours formation pour les missionnaires sera donné en français, du 1 mars au 26 mai 2010.

Ce cours est destiné à tous les frères qui ont commencé à travailler en «mission. «Cela vaut aussi pour ceux qui vont du sud au nord de l’Inde ou en Europe». Ce cours n’est pas fait pour ceux qui partent seulement pour un court séjour, mais pour ceux qui partent pour quelques années. Sont invités aussi les missionnaires Les conditions: connaître le français, expérience missionnaire .

J’invite les Supérieurs Majeurs à me communiquer les noms des frères qui sont intéressés à participer à ce type de programme de formation.

Cher Ministre, merci de votre collaboration. Je souhaite que cet effort du bureau de l’animation missionnaire nous aide à grandir dans l’esprit franciscain de la Mission.

Merci de m’informer dès que possible des noms des participants intéressés, en indiquant leur nom, quelques informations personnelles, leur niveau de maitrise du français, les renseignements personnels du passeport, le pays de leur «mission». Date d’échéance: 15 novembre 2009.


The next course of our formation program for missionaries will be done in French from 2nd March to 24th May 2009.


It is meant for all those brothers who are preparing to leave their own culture and to go to a “Mission” (it is applicable also to those going from South India to North India, or those going to Europe). It is not designed for those who go only for a short experience. They should go for some years. The past has shown, that participation was more fruitful for those who had already made an experience in a specific mission area. So we specially invite Missionaries who recently started working in the “Mission”.
The condition is knowledge of the French language and some missionary experience.

I would like to ask the Major Superiors to let me know me the names of brothers who are interested in participating in this kind of a formation programme.

Dear brother Minister,
Thank you for your collaboration. I hope that this effort of the Office of Mission Animation will help us to grow in the Franciscan spirit of Mission.

Please inform me as soon as possible about interested participants, indicating Name, some personal data, knowledge of the French language, the place of their “mission”.
The course will be held only if there are sufficient participants enrolled until November 15th. Please express your interest during the next 2 weeks.


Il prossimo corso per la formazione dei nuovi missionari in francese avrà luogo dal 1 marzo al 26 maggio 2010.


Il corso è destinato a tutti quei frati che si preparano a lasciare la propria cultura e ad andare in una “Missione” (termine che è applicabile anche a coloro che vanno dall’India del Sud nell’India del Nord o a coloro che vanno in Europa). Non è invece per coloro che vanno soltanto per una breve esperienza. Si tratta quindi di coloro che andranno per diversi anni. I missionari con una certa esperienza nel paese della loro missione hanno potuto profittare meglio del corso. Invitiamo per questo specialmente i missionari che hanno cominciato di recente a lavorare in “Missione”. Condizione è che conoscano il francese e una esperienza nel lavoro.

Vorrei chiedere ai Superiori maggiori che mi comunichino i nomi di frati che sono interessati a partecipare a questa forma di programma di formazione.

Caro fratello Ministro,
grazie per la tua collaborazione. Spero che questo sforzo dell’Ufficio dell’Animazione missionaria ci aiuti a crescere nello spirito francescano della Missione.

Per favore, informami prima possibile riguardo ai partecipanti, indicandone il nome, alcuni dati personali, la conoscenza della lingua francese, il luogo della loro “missione”.
Ultimo termine è il 15 novembre prossimo per comunicare il vostro interesse. Perché abbiamo bisogno di un numero minimo di partecipanti per poter organizzare il corso.

French Course Spring 2009 - cancelled // Course en française annulé

Le cours de formation en langue française pour les nouveaux missionnaires, prévu du 2 mars au 24 mai 2009, a été annulé en raison du nombre réduit d’inscriptions. Un nouveau cours (en français) est en préparation et sera disponible en printemps 2010.

Le prochain cours, en anglais, aura lieu en automne 2009 (31.8. – 22.11.). L’incription préliminaire à ce cours est ouverte, dès maintenant: les supérieurs majeurs sont priés de me communiquer les noms des frères intéressés à ce genre de cours de fomation.


The next course of our formation program for new missionaries (in French) from 2nd March to 24th May 2009 has been cancelled. We had only a very limited number of applications. We are planning to offer the course again in spring 2010.
The next English course will take place in autumn 2009 (August 31st – November 22nd). Major Superiors can now pre-register any brothers who are interested in participating in this kind of formation programme, by letting me have their names.


Il prossimo corso per la formazione di nuovi missionari (in lingua francese) dal 2 marzo al 24 maggio 2009 è stato annullato per mancanza di candidati. Stiamo preparando un altro corso in francese per 2010.
Il corso in inglese si fará in autunno del 2009 (31.8. – 22.11.). L’iscrizione preliminare è già aperta: i Superiori maggiori sono pregati di comunicarmi i nomi di frati interessati a partecipare a questo tipo di programma formativo.

Blessing for Missionaries at the OFM-Curia



The whole group of missionaries from Brussels gathered on Friday November 14th at the Generalate of the OFM. Minister general Br. José Rodríguez Carballo presided the official sending ceremony of Br. Damai OFM from Indonesia and Br. Rufin OFM from Ukrainia. Together with Br. Jerzy Norel OFMConv, Vicar general, and Br. Helmut Rakowski OFMCap, General secretary for missionary animation, he also gave the blessing to the other participants at the end of the 3 months program at Brussels. The whole group, together with the coordinators Damien Isabel OFM and Larry Webber OFMCap, spend a week of retreat at Assisi and other Franciscan places.

The next Course in French will take place in 2009 from March 2nd to May 24th and in English language from August 31st to November 22nd.

The homily from Minister general Br. José Rodríguez Carballo you can fin here.

More pictures are on the OFM-Website here.

Inter Franciscan Formation for Missionaries at Brussels



12 missionaries are currently in Brussels for the Franciscan formation program. The course in English language started on August 30th and goes until November 23rd, 2008. The 6 Capuchins are: AROCKIA RAJA Innasi Michael, JOSEPH MANUEL RAJ Maria Joseph Louis and RETNAM Alberic Nimalan from TAMIL NADU going to ZIMBABWE; LEWIS Styphen from KARNATAKA, working in UGANDA; HALOHO Anselmus from MEDAN-PROVINCE and working in the PHILIPPINES and HUTABARAT Johannes Michael from MEDAN-PROVINCE and working in THAILAND.
Br. Damien Isaabell, OFM from USA ist the program coordinator, assisted by Br. Lawrence Webber OFMCap from Panama.