Following the conclusion of the Continental Meeting of JPIC (Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation) Animators of Africa, held in Rwanda, four members of the JPIC Animation Committee – Br. Daniel Blanco, Br. Taucen Girsang, Br. Jean Eric Mutabazi, and Sr. Mary Frances Wangare – met in person in Kivumu, Rwanda, from Saturday, 26 September, to Tuesday, 29 September 2026. The other two members of the Committee, Br. Cordian Szwarc and Mr. Tomás Insua, were unable to attend the meeting for personal reasons.
The main objective of the meeting which followed the methodology of “memory-discernment-looking ahead” was to gather the pastoral and documentary record of the 2026 JPIC Continental Meeting for Africa and identify its main fruits, challenges and commitments, to discern on the JPIC’s contribution to the process of General Chapter OFM of May 2027 and to outline the Office’s agenda for October 2026 – May 2027.
The meeting began on Saturday the 26th September, with a prayer for refugees and migrants led by Sr. Mary Francis, followed by an evaluation by all participants of the JPIC Continental Meeting for Africa which was concluded the previous day. All the participants appreciated the way in which the meeting proceeded from the arrival of participants to its conclusion while acknowledging the failure of JPIC animators some Entities to attend. It was also realised it is difficult to assess the continuity and connection between various continental meetings due to the long period of six years between them.
On Monday, the 28th September, following the opening prayer for peace by Br. Taucen, the session focused on the process of preparation of the General Chapter OFM and the contribution of the General Office for JPIC to it. The Committee carefully discussed the articles of the General Statutes on JPIC so as to see if any amendments need to be suggested. After this, the participants reviewed the state, the challenges and the proposals of each of the four Franciscan networks (the Americas, Mediterranean, Asia and Africa) and drafted the Office’s proposals to the General Chapter.
The final day, Tuesday the 29th September, began with a prayer for creation led by Fr. Jean Eric. During this session, the Committee finally drew the JPIC office’s proposalsto the General Chapter OFM 2027and outlined the JPIC office’s agenda for October 2026 – May 2027.
Special attention was paid to the organisation of the International JPIC Course with regard to its venue and cost.
The meeting concluded with two visits: a fraternal visit to the postulancy house where fifteen young men from Burundi and Rwanda live the Franciscan values with a lot of cheerfulness and enthusiasm; and a visit to the historical Minor Basilica of Kabgayi.
