Spirit of St. Francis of Assisi evangelizing East Asia

(May 19,2010) To make the Franciscan charism present in East Asia, young professed friars of the Orders of Friars Minor (OFM) met recently in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, to discuss how to meet the challenges of the future. Some 33 participants, among them one from India and two each from China, Myanmar and Japan said the models that can inspire us are Fra Giovanni da Montecorvino, Fr. Antonio Caballero, and some thousands of missionaries, who have borne fruit with the announcement of the Gospel in East Asia. Among the other topics covered during the meeting were: ongoing formation, cooperation among different provinces, listening and fraternal dialogue, sharing the gift of the Franciscan vocation and evangelization.
Br. Paskalis Bruno Syukur, the Definitor General for Asia, accepted the invitation to preside over the Opening Mass and gave a special talk to participants of the meeting on “Bearers of Christ's Gospel.”
The encounter of the young friars concluded with a liturgical celebration and renewal of religious vows presided by Fr. Baltazar A. Obiko, President of the East Asian Conference (EAC) of Ministers Provincial.