Fr. Francesc Linares,ofm

The I International Assembly of Young Franciscans (YouFra) was held in the franciscan college-community of Vilanova i La Geltrú (Barcelona) from the 28^th June to the 5^th of July. Some seventy representatives of the National Fraternities of YouFra, the young, Assistants from the First Order and one Poor Clare Sister of the active life took part.

The participants in this International Assembly, from Korea to the United States, passing through the Philippines, Pakistan, Syria, South Africa, Canada, El Salvador, Brazil, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia, Lithuania, Poland, Chile, Paraguay, Venezuela, Porto Rico, Slovakia, Italy, Portugal, Great Britain, Spain, Argentina, etc., shared in the celebration of their faith, culture and franciscan vocation, as well as the work carried out through the conferences and group-work on relations with the Church, society and franciscan values. They were able, at the same time, to unify criteria about their identity and organisation.

Among the participants who must be mentioned were the Minister General of the Secular Franciscan Order, Encarnación del Pozo, the Minister General of the Capuchins, Br. Mauro Jöhri (representing the Conference of Ministers General), and the three Assistants General to the SFO, Br. Ivan Matić, Br. Martín Pablo Bitzer and Br. Samy Irudaya.

The Catalan Franciscan Province of St. Salvador de Horta, represented by its Minister Provincial, Br. Francesc Vilà, and the franciscan community of Vilanova i La Geltrú cordially and fraternally welcomed all the brothers and sisters participating in the assembly with great satisfaction and joy. It was truly a great gift from the Lord.

(http://www.ofm.org/fraternitas/barcelona).