Greetings From Brussels

For the past two and a half months Father Michael has been participating in the International Course for Franciscan Missions. Friar-Missionaries from around the globe have gathered in Brussels, Belgium to reflect and learn about their role as Missionaries in the Franciscan Tradition. The foundation of the course has been Chapter 16 of the Early Rule of Saint Francis dealing with the missionary vocation of the friars. Francis told his friars that they were to live among the people and if it pleased the Lord, they were to preach. In addition to many fine classes presented by experienced Franciscan Missionaries, each friar made a presentation on the Country where he will be missioned. Presentations were made on Ghana, Africa, Kazakhstan, Brukna Faso, Myanmar, Germany and Jamaica.

In order to develop his presentation, Father Michael met with Ambassador Marcia Gilbert-Roberts, former Jamaican Ambassador to the Holy See (Vatican) and the present Ambassador to Belgium and the European Union. She challenged the friars to be a moral voice in a land where there is a great deal of violence. She also asked the friars to help young people, especially young males, to discover a direction and purpose in their lives through education.

The course concludes with 10 days spent in Assisi, the birthplace of Francis and the Franciscan Order