Notre Dame
des Nations
Bruxelles
Fraternité Franciscaine
Ave. du Chant d'Oiseau, 2
1150 Bruxelles - Belgium.
Tel. +32-2-7614238
Fax. +32-2-7724669.
eMail: ndnations@skynet.be
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 The first group of missionaries has finished its formation
The first group of missionaries finished its formation in the international Fraternity of Brussels at the end of August. The final month was reserved for meetings, visits and a period of interiorisation.
At the end of July the group was the guest of Br. Hermann Schalück in Aachen (Germany), where it was able to visit and know Missio and then Missionszentrale der Franziskaner and the Chinese Centre of the Divine Word Missionaries in Bonn.
The first week of August was reserved for spiritual exercises in the Trappist Monastery of "Notre Dame de Scourmont" in Chimay (Belgium). Br. Theo Vergeer, of the Dutch Province, animated the meditations and the liturgy by developing the topic of "contemplation and mission".
The last experience for the new missionaries was the pilgrimage to the Franciscan places of Assisi, Rieti Valley and La Verna. In each sanctuary they were able to celebrate the Eucharist, have a guide for the visit and some time for personal reflection with the aid of Franciscan texts. During the pilgrimage, the International Fraternity of Brussels, together with the missionaries, had fraternal meetings with the novices of San Damiano, Fonte Colombo and La Verna and also with the young friars of the Italian Provinces, who were preparing for solemn profession, in order to have an interchange of experiences and a little missionary animation.
The pilgrimage ended with the presence of the Minister General, Br. Giacomo Bini. On the evening of the 27th August, in front of the Porziuncola, with the participation of many friars, sisters and laity, Br. Giacomo conferred the missionary mandate for the projects of the Order. The following day the missionaries left to go to their destinations. They are: Br. Paulo Cezar Borges, a Brazilian, to Thailand; Br. Robert Byrindo, a Pole, to Hong Kong; Br. Francesco Gagliano, an Italian, to Russia; Br. Jacek Gorka, a Pole, to the Vice-Province of St. Francis in Africa; Br. Marino Zucchinali, an Italian, to Zimbabwe.
Bruxelles
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