1. The Project

The establishment of an international fraternity to support the missionary projects of the Order was thought of and wanted by the Minister General, fr .Giacomo Bini, together with his definitorium. The brothers, who make up this fraternity, are named by the Minister General and they depend juridically on the same Minister General. Presently, the fraternity is composed of: fr. Vincenzo Brocanelli (Italy), fr. Basilio de Resende (Brasil), fr. Steve Suding (USA), fr. Francisco Aceves (Mexico), fr. Pierre Nguyen van Quy (Vietnam), fr. Agnello Jacquemin (Belgium).

Their principal tasks have been attributed to this intercultural fraternity:

a) To prepare future missionaries through the discernment of their missionary vocation, through personal and communal accompaniment, and through the formation acquisition of the necessary instruments for mission;

b) To welcome the brothers who are already in mission and who need a rest period and a spiritual or cultural "updating" .
c) To attempt a new model of Franciscan fraternity in Europe.
The fraternity arrived in Brussels on the second October 2000 and uses two officiaI languages: French and English.

The firsts months have served to constitute the communion and union among the brothers, to meet members of the local church, to take initial steps of involvement in the local church and to prepare the formation programme for the future missionaries.

Since March 05 the fraternity is welcoming and accompanying four young friars who preparing for the mission "ad gentes".

 Brussels Main