AMERICA/MEXICO - III International Franciscan Congress of the Franciscan Family and all those interested in the spirituality of Saint Francis

Monterrey (Agenzia Fides) – The Franciscan Family is enthusiastically preparing for the 3rd International Franciscan Congress, which will take place April 30 to May 3, 2009 in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon (Mexico). The goal of the Congress is to celebrate the 800th anniversary of the foundation of the Order of Friars Minor and promote the Franciscan charism and spirituality as a proposal to the entire people of God, in this celebration of 800 years of history, presence, and hope for the Order.
The Congress is open to the entire Franciscan Family and all those interested in becoming more familiar with the spirituality of Saint Francis and in sharing in the great feast.
“We will be accompanied by Franciscan Friars and Poor Clares from all over the world,” the letter of presentation says. “There will also be members of the Third Order, as well as diocesan priests from all over the world. The invitation is open to all those who know or who would like to know more about Francis of Assisi.”
The event will begin on the afternoon of April 30, with the celebration of the Mass at 6:30pm, followed by a concert at 8:00pm. The talks planned during the Congress are: “Franciscan Spirituality in the History of the Church and Culture Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow,” by Cardinal Carlos Amigo Vallejo, OFM, Archbishop of Seville (Spain); “The Franciscan Spirituality Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow” by Fr. Ignacio Larrañaga, OFM Cap, Founder of “Workshops of Prayer and Life”; “Franciscan Humanism Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow” by Bishop Fausto Trávez, OFM, Apostolic Vicar of Zamora (Ecuador). (RG) (Agenzia Fides 22/4/2009)