Ongoing Formation for the Franciscan Family of Congo Brazzaville

The OFS, the friars and the Poor Clares of Congo Brazzaville had the joy of meeting for ongoing formation at St. Clare’s school in Djiri-Brazzaville from the 8th- 9th August, 2025. The Spiritual Assistant General, Br. Pedro Zitha, OFM, emphasised the significance of being a Franciscan Family that enriches the mutual vitality of the members, enhancing the significance of the Spiritual Assistant of the OFS. 
Each session was followed by a sharing that brought to light many positive and some negative aspects that favour growth, strengthen the understanding of the identity of the OFS and the sense of belonging to the Franciscan Family. 
The formation ended with the celebration of Mass presided over by Fr. Pedro, who urged all the members to rediscover the true Franciscan identity in order to witness to the Gospel in today's world that so much needs to live in mutual and unconditional love; He also thanked each sister and brother for the sacrifice made in dedicating their time to participating in this ongoing formation.  

The first OFS fraternity in Congo was born in 1958 in Pointe-Noire. The General Curia of the OFM entrusted the pastoral care to the Spiritan Fathers (Congregation of the Holy Spirit), before the arrival of the first Order and the Poor Clares, so in the early years, the OFS lived its Franciscan charism despite the absence of the OFM and OFMCap friars. Finally, with the arrival of the friars in 1982 in Makoua Boudji and then of the Poor Clares in 2000, the OFS had the joy of living its Franciscan charism within the Franciscan Family. 
This joint formation once again emphasised the importance of living the charism together and the awareness of the interdependence between the three families: the First Order, the Poor Clares and the OFS.