Chapter of the Province of Blessed Duns Scotus (France-Belgium)

During the Provincial Chapter held from the 21st to 30th of April 2025 in Brussels, the friars of the Province of Blessed John Duns Scotus elected Br. Frédéric-Marie Le Méhauté, 51, as Provincial Minister. Most recently, Br. Frédéric-Marie was involved in the Province’s communications and youth ministry activities. He was serving as Vicar of the Province, and succeeds Br. Michel Laloux.

A theologian giving a voice to the poor

Brother Frédéric-Marie was born in Paris in 1974. After a degree in engineering he spent 7 years of professional experience in that field, including 4 in Japan. He entered the novitiate of the Friars Minor in 2004 and worked with people in difficult situations (people without homes, as well as “Fourth World” families in Toulouse, Paris and Marseille). He then spent a year in Congo-Brazzaville ministering to street children. He made his solemn profession on April 24, 2010 and was ordained a priest on April 14, 2012. In 2013, he entered the Jesuit Faculties of Loyola in Paris for a master's degree, and wrote his thesis on the poor as a privileged “place” to experience the revelation of God. It was published in 2022 with the title "Révélé aux tout-petits. Une théologie à l'écoute des plus pauvres" (“Revealed to the littlest. A theology that listens to the poorest”) and has been translated and published also in Italian. In the fraternity in Paris, he served as professor of theology at the Faculty of Loyola. His research focuses on fundamental theology and the dialogue between science and faith, on practical theology that listens to the poorest and on the theology of creation, seeking to connect the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.

A Vicar close to migrants

Br. Didier Van Hecke was elected Vicar Provincial. Born in 1954 in Mâcon, Br. Didier entered the novitiate of the Friars Minor in 1982 and made his solemn profession on February 23, 1987. His Franciscan life was influenced greatly by two missionary experiences he had in Africa (Togo and Ivory Coast between 1995 and 2001), where he was director of the simply professed, Guardian of the local fraternity, and a professor of Sacred Scripture. He also led numerous pilgrimages to the Holy Land and Italy. Since September 2022, he has been the Guardian of the Franciscan fraternity of Marseille, where the friars live their calling right in the heart of the impoverished neighbourhood of Noailles, giving particular attention to welcoming migrants in line with the wishes of Pope Francis, who reached out to them on the first day of their Chapter.

The Provincial Definitorium was elected and reflects the current increasingly international composition of the Province:

• Br. Miki Kasongo Mukanjila, formerly Prefect of Studies and Head of the Internationality and Interculturality Commission in the Province;
• Br. Yannick Le Maou, formerly Provincial Treasurer and Head of Initial Reception;
• Br. Carlos Alberto Gutierrez Velasco, formerly Secretary of Formation and Studies and Professor in the Faculty of Philosophy at the Pontifical University Antonianum;
• Br. Nicolas Morin, formerly involved in youth and vocation ministry.

With this new team, the Province intends to continue to respond to the challenges of our times, in particular, reaching out to young people who often have many question even while they may feel the call to be radical and committed. The Province will continue to serve those men and women on the margins of the Church and society, who will hopefully find through the Franciscan joy of the Friars, a way back to faith and hope.