ASIA - New Franciscan missionaries in the Far East

Rome (Agenzia Fides) - In the footsteps of great missionaries such as Friar John of Montecorvino, new Franciscan missionaries are taking routes to the Far East to preach the Gospel. Recently, in a solemn Eucharist presided over by the Minister General OFM, José Rodriguez Carballo, five friars were posted for a mission ad gentes to the countries of Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, the Holy Land, and also to the land of the martyrs, Sudan.
“The posting of these brothers” remarked Friar Carballo in a statement sent to Fides, “is a particularly significant event for the entire Order. I hope it will be a call for many brothers in the Order of Friars Minor.”
The friars departing are: Br Giuseppe Neri from the Province of the Stigmata of St Francis in Tuscany (Italy); Br Maseo P. Colha and Br Yaroslav Vitkulinec, from the province of Slovakia; Br Lukasz Kwiatkowski, from the Province of St Mary of the Angels in Poland; Br Peter Beto, from the Province of Indonesia.
The brothers received their formation in the Franciscan Missionary Society in Brussels, where all the brothers from around the world receive missionary formation.
“May the words of Jesus ring out on this occasion in the hearts of all Friars Minor: 'The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few.' And again: 'Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature'. The Order of Friars Minor is, from its origin, a missionary Order,” said the Minister General OFM.
Regarding this, he continued, “professing the way of life that Francis left with us, every Friar Minor should enter into a spirit of discernment to see if the Lord calls him to the mission ad gentes. None of us can exclude being called. And if one is called, they should respond generously, even if this means departing and leaving so many things behind: comfort, family, friends and security.”
“Dear brothers Giuseppe, Lukasz, Mase, Peter and Yaroslav, with the Friar St Francis I tell you, 'Have faith in Him, and He will take care of you',” said Friar Carballo. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 09/12/2010)