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3 October 2018

Revitalizing the Franciscan presence in Canada

Strength in numbers!

The Franciscan (Order of Friars Minor) provinces of St. Joseph (Eastern Canada) and Christ the King (Western Canada) are pleased to announce their upcoming union. This union will take place at the end of a process begun several years ago.

On this occasion, a public celebration which will which will mark this amalgamation will be proposed on Monday, October 22, 2018, at 7 p.m at St. Albert Church (7 St. Vital Avenue) à St. Albert, Alberta.

This historical union will merge the two Canadian Franciscan provinces into one entity facing a future that is rich with promise. During this Liturgy of the Word, the name of the new leader of the province, known as the Minister Provincial, will be announced. The new logo representing the new entity will also be unveiled at that time.

Following the union of the two Canadian Franciscan provinces, the new province will include 87 Franciscan brothers from the ages of 32 to 97. Currently, Canadian Franciscans are present in Quebec (Montreal, Lachute, Trois-Rivières), British Columbia (Vancouver and Victoria) and Alberta (Edmonton and Cochrane).

The main characteristics of Franciscans are devotion and humility as they live their vows of chastity, obedience and having nothing of their own.

The work of the Canadian brothers includes ministry with the poor and the homeless, support work in the area of addictions, parish ministry, retreats, high school chaplaincy, university teaching, and spiritual accompaniment with Secular Franciscans.

As Canadian Franciscans, we must rebuild our structures for the evangelization of the world of tomorrow. We must draw our inspiration from St. Francis of Assisi, Pope Francis and God himself.

Jean-Pierre Ducharme, ofm, member of the transition committee

Information

Julie-Isabelle Baribeau
514 246-0850

Br. Michael Perras, ofm
780 690-4935

www.franciscanfriars.ca