AFRICA/MOROCCO - Archdiocese of Rabat holds a Congress in honor of the 800th anniversary of the Franciscan Rule

Rabat (Agenzia Fides) – The Archdiocese of Rabat, Morocco, celebrated the 800th anniversary of the Franciscan Rule with a two-day Congress that opened on May 2.
The Congress was presented by Archbishop Vincent Landel of Rabat, and by Fr. Manuel Corullon. A talk was then given by Fr. Ramon Lourido Diaz entitled, “The Franciscan Presence in Morocco Over the Course of History,” and another was given by Fr. Robert Mokry on the life of Saint Francis. On the afternoon of May 2, there was a group discussion followed by a talk by Fr. Manuel Corullon on “Saint Francis and Islam.” On Sunday, May 3, the day of reflection, there was a talk given by Joel Colombel on the vocation of Friars Minor. This talk was followed by a series of testimonies. The Day concluded with a Mass and lunch in community. The Franciscans of Morocco, in the Archdiocese of Rabat, brought Christian presence in the Cherifien Empire.
The Franciscans were at their largest number at the time of Fr. Lerchundi, in the Diocese of Tanger in the late 19th century and with Archbishop Lefevre of Rabat, at the moment of the decolonization (1950-1954). (LM) (Agenzia Fides 4/5/2009)