LIVING AS A LESSER BROTHER

Each fraternity will aim to become a community of prayer, gathering around the table of the Lord together and savoring the word of the Lord together. As members of a fraternity made up of friars varying in age, upbringing, experiences, and culture we will understand, supplement, encourage, support, and help each other. In order that each of us may be able to live as a “lesser brother” all his days we will live together accompanying each other until the end.

MISSION AS LESSER BROTHER

In accordance with “The Japanese Province’s Basic Principles of Evangelization” the provincial administration, each secretariat, and each committee will devise concrete plans in conjunction with each friar and fraternity. Along the lines of that plan, each friar and each community will rebuild and revitalize their mission. Regarding the care of parishes in which we are involved, we will work for the vitalization of those faith communities in collaboration with the bishop. Likewise, for our various apostolates (including our school and social welfare legal entities), we will widen our own fraternal communion to include the many people involved in them, aiming to accomplish an even deeper gospel fellowship.

The secretariats and committees of the province will coordinate with each other more than ever. In accordance with the decision of the 2015 General Chapter, with the collaboration of the JPIC committee, each fraternity will implement “Care of our Common Home” (the subtitle of the encyclical Laudato si) to carry out the preservation of the environment.

ACTION AS LESSER BROTHER

In response to these priorities and recommendations, the provincial administration, each secretariat, and each committee will submit action plans to the Plenary Council of March 2017. At gatherings for ongoing formation, missioning programs, and house chapters each community will take measures to get the Friars to know well and actually implement these priorities and recommendations in ways suited to the actual situation of each community. Each friar as a lesser brother will spare no effort in putting the priorities and recommendations into action rather than in talking about them.