The Meeting of the Secretariat for Formation and Studies of the African Conference

The Secretary General for Formation and Studies, Br. Vidal Rodríguez López, ofm, and his General Assistant, Br. Sergiusz Bałdyga, participated in The Meeting of the Secretariat for Formation and Studies of the African Conference, held form 21^st to 25^th of February 2011 in Maputo, Mozambique. Seven friars (from 11) from seven different entities attended: the Province of St. Benedict the African (Congo Kinshasa), the Custody of St. Clare of Assisi (Mozambique), the Province of St. Francis (East Africa), the Custody of Good Shepherd (Zimbabwe), the Province of Incarnate Word (West Africa), the Foundation of Our Lady of Africa (Congo Brazzaville) and the Province of Our Lady Queen of Peace (South Africa).

On Monday 21^st they went to visit the Poor Clares of Soria (Spain) in Namaacha, celebrated the Eucharist and had lunch with them. They also visited their newly built monastery which will be opened on the 19^th March 2011.

At the meeting, trough the reports given from each entity the participants were able to have a general view of the situation of formation in Africa today. They also had a deeper reflection on Franciscan Formation in the light of the General Chapter 2009 given by Br. Vidal. Another presentation on Formation and JPIC in Africa was given by Br. Ilídio Jacinto. Br. Sergiusz then facilitated the preparations for the Continental Formation Congress which will be held later this year in November 2011, probably in Arusha, Tanzania. On the conclusion of the meeting the friars could meet personally the Cardinal Alexandre José Maria OFM.