The second day of the International Council of JPIC that is taking place from November 20th to 27th in the hill town of Petrópolis, Río de Janeiro, Brazil, was marked by the presentation of the Animators’ reports from every Franciscan Conference in the world including the Holy Land.
Since the year 2007, the franciscan province of the Imaculate Conception from Brazil is present in Rocinha, one of the largest Favelas in Rio de Janeiro. To begin with this experience the participants of the International Council of JPIC, early in the morning of November 23rd began their journey.
Prior to the conclusion of the first week of COP27, the various Catholic environmental organizations and institutions convened for the first time. The Franciscan delegation comprised of OFM-JPIC, Franciscans International, and other Franciscan groups from Africa attended the COP summit. COP27 is the first COP for Catholic players as an official UN Climate Change party (UNFCCC). Since COP24, the Franciscans have constantly participated in gatherings of Catholic actors. Archbishop Nicolas Thevenin, the Apostolic Nuncio to Egypt, led the Vatican delegation that facilitated the meeting.
The first COP 27 screening of the Letter was presented by the Laudato Si Movement, the Vatican delegation, and the Senegalese government on November 10, 2022. It took place at COP27’s Blue Zone in the Government of Senegal Pavilion. Before the film was shown, Archbishop Nicolas Henry Marie Denis Thévenin, the Apostolic Nuncio to the Arab Republic of Egypt, had a roundtable conversation with Fra. Angel Cortez, OFM, the representative of the Franciscan Delegation, and with other representatives of Catholic organizations.
“Like last year, I ask each one, at least with another brother or more than one, to make a gesture of minority, of entrustment to Providence, of service and sharing with the poor. This will be the best preparation for the Centenary of the Rule and Christmas at Greccio”. This is what we read in the Letter of the Minister General Br Massimo Fusarelli on the occasion of the VI World Day of the Poor, which is celebrated this year on 13 November.
The Franciscan Delegation, represented by Friar Angelito Andig Cortez, OFM, from the Province of San Pedro Bautista in the Philippines, a member of the OFMJPIC Animation Commission and an active partner of Franciscan International, participated in the annual Talanoa Dialogue at the beginning of COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, from November 5 to 18, 2022.
Three franciscan brothers in Inicial Formation share their experiences working at the service of migrants.
Taucen Hotlan Girsang, OFM, of the Province of St. Michael the Archangel in Indonesia, was appointed Assistant Director of the General Office of JPIC by the General Definitory of the Order during the month of July of this year.
The past 12 of September concluded the commemoration of the “Mother Earth, Sisters Stars”, the festival dedicated to cultural, scientific, and artistic themes essentially focused on integral ecology, scientific research, astronomy and the dialogue between science and faith.