Bro. Seán Kelly OFM Cap. (third from right) A decline in numbers of the order in Great Britain and Ireland, and a desire to pool resources to promote vocations, prompted the “historic” decision.
There are just 25 Capuchin’s left in Great Britain, no longer enough for it to be considered an independent province. There are 65 Irish Capuchin’s left – their average age is 78.
Irish provincial Bro. Seán Kelly OFM Cap., sees the transition, which has been 10 years in the making, as an opportunity to witness the universal call to holiness across national territories.
“To help smaller provinces survive and to function well, it’s about amalgamating them with slightly larger ones,” Bro Kelly said. “As we’re close neighbours, it seemed appropriate, inevitable even, that we would merge with Great Britain.
“It is a great occasion to remember that we Capuchins, before we call ourselves English, Irish, Scottish or whatever national identity we have our origin from, are simply first and foremost, brothers in the Gospel and followers of St Francis.”
The merger had been proposed in 2013, and it was only after a “long period of discernment” that the “historic” merger was proclaimed, June 19, by General Minister of the Capuchins, Bro. Roberto Genuin.
The Irish provincial hopes that the merger will be an opportunity for growth together.
“Nothing much will change on the ground”, Bro. Kelly continued, “only that we’ll become more unified in relation to our vocation promotions and our formation of postulants, which has been done in unity in the past.
“It can only help to pool our resources for vocation promotions. But also, as the general minister said on Saturday, we are witness to the rest of Europe of the way forward.”
In October 2021, a meeting will be held in Poland for all the provincials of the order to discuss the future of the Capuchin’s in Europe, Bro. Kelly explained.