Countries

In 1976, Bolivia was the first country in which the Province of St Anthony and Bl. James Strepa (Jakub Strzemię) established a mission.  They were invited to work in Bolivia by the Ordinary of the Diocese of Santa Cruz, Archbishop Luis Rodriguez.  On 22 October, 1986, the Franciscan missionaries formed a ‘custody’ in Bolivia – a territorial-personal entity with a large range of autonomy.  Franciscans in Bolivia In September 1976, Fr Jan Koszewski was the first of the friars to arrive in Bolivia.  He knew Spanish from his work in Argentina, and already had some missionary experience.  That December he was joined by two other missionaries, Fr Szymon Chapiński and Fr Rufin Orecki, who had studied Spanish for two months in Spain.  They all lived in a rented flat in Montero. On August 7, 1...

Paraguay is the third Latin-American country to have Franciscan missionaries from the Cracow province.  Paraguay is a land-locked, tropical country, where Guarani and Spanish are spoken. The origin of the name ‘Paraguay’ is debated.  It may mean ‘the river that is the beginning of the sea’, the water of the payaguáes inhabiting the river bank, and the name of the great cacique (tribal leader) Paraguaío. Other theories are that it means ‘a river like a sea’, ‘a river of inhabitants of the sea’ and the crowned river. The capital of Paraguay is Asunción (Assumption). The act of independence was signed on 11 May, 1814. Anyone who goes to Asunción should be prepared for hot weather and high humidity. Living in Asunción is like getting a free sauna, every day. A bird’s-eye view of the city revea...

Missions in Peru The first project to establish the presence of the Franciscan Order in Peru was presented by the Bishop of Chimbote, Msgr Luis Bambarena, and the General of the Order, Fr Witalis Bommarco. The task was undertaken by the Cracow Franciscan Province, and in November 1988 they sent Fr Jarosław Wysoczański and Fr Zbigniew Strzałkowski to Peru. The mission at Pariacoto was officially opened on 30 August, 1989, on the Feast of St Rose of Lima, the patron saint of Peru. A few months later, in December, Fr Michał Tomaszek joined the missionary community. It was a time of civil war, provoked by the Maoist terrorist group ‘Shining Path’. The terrorists considered the pastoral and charitable activities of the Franciscans as counter-revolutionary. Therefore, on 9 August, 1991, the part...

Franciscan missionary activity in Uganda began when Fr Marcin Zagórski arrived on 13 April, 2001. Fr Marcin had previously worked in Zambia. The mission was officially established on 1 August, 2001, when Fr Bogusław Dąbrowski arrived. Joining the mission in December was Fr Jarosław Wysoczański, followed by other brothers: Fr Lucjan Szczepański, Fr Piotr Tymko, Fr Marek Warzecha and Br Piotr Gorący. The missionaries began their work in the Diocese of Kasana-Luweero, in the village of Kakooge. Before they constructed their own monastery and finished construction on the parish church in Kakooge (a project begun by the previous parish priest), the friars enjoyed the hospitality of the mission of the Brothers of the Christian Schools (FSC). Matugga On 3 January, 2010, the bishop created a new ...

Uzbekistan is located in Central Asia. It covers an area of 447 thousand square kilometres and is bordered by Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. Until 1991, Uzbekistan was one of the republics in the Soviet Union. The majority of the population (about 90%) adhere to the Muslim religion. Franciscans in Uzbekistan The first Franciscan to go to independent Uzbekistan was Fr Krzysztof Kukułka, who on 29 September, 1997, was appointed the head of the missio sui iuris (independent mission) created by the Holy See.  On 1 April, 2005, the Holy Father John Paul II created the Apostolic Administration in Uzbekistan, at the same time appointing as the first bishop the Polish Franciscan Father Jerzy Maculewicz OFM Conv. Currently in Uzbekistan, there are five Catholic parishes loca...