Conferences

Conventual Franciscan Friars from the Western Hemisphere Meet in Alajuela, Costa Rica

Friar Chris Deitz, president of the North American Conference
and minister provincial of St. Joseph Cupertino Province (headquartered in California) with minister general Friar Marco Tasca sitting and to the left Friar Carlos Trovarello of Argentina.

The Conventual Franciscan jurisdictions in the United States, Canada, England, Ireland and all of Latin America are organized into two large conferences – the FALC (Federation of Latin American Conventuals Conference) and the CFC (Conventual Franciscan Conference). The conference members are those friars who serve in leadership in each respective province or jurisdiction. These conferences are a tool for friars to coordinate their efforts and support one another in their ministries.

English speaking discussion group

Between January 28th and February 1, friars representing all the member jurisdictions in the FALC and CFC met at the Conventual Franciscan friary in Alajuela, Costa Rica. The order’s minister general, Friar Marco Tasca as well as assistants general, Friars John-Joseph Dolan and Jorge Fernandez also attended the meeting of the conferences.

Friar Carlos Trovarello, president of the Latin American Conference

and minister provincial of the Province of Rioplatensis (headquartered in Argentina), Friar Michael Lorentsen, Vocation Director, Immaculate Conception Province and Friar Patrick Greenough, Minister Provincial, St. Bonaventure Province

After a day of recollection, three days of discussions ensued. During these discussions, the conference presidents addressed attendees about the realities in their territories. The ministers provincial from the conferences also spoke about their respective provinces’ various ministries. Friar Michael Lorentsen – from Immaculate Conception Province in North America – described the state of vocations in the context of the United States and Canada.

Friar John-Joseph Dolan of the United States and Friar Jorge Fernandez of Argentina

Both friars serve as assistant generals in Rome, Italy

Friar Marco Tasca’s address about fraternal life and service to one another capped the get-together in Alajuela off on a high note. The meetings were overwhelmingly enthusiastic and optimistic about the work of the Order in various countries in which the Friars serve.