The Theology and Spirituality of the Symbols

The Franciscan Missionaries of Hope is a burgeoning religious group founded in 1993 in Kenya by nine brothers who felt the call to follow in the footprints of Saint Francis of Assisi. All nine brothers were originally within the Order of Friars Minor in the Vice Province of East Africa. The brothers “had been in the Order or the Friars Minor (OFM) for a minimum of six years from 1986 up to 1993.” They were in their temporary vows, studying or doing pastoral ministry in various countries when the leadership of the Order of Friars Minor advised them to leave while a number of other brothers decided to do so on their own. Without entering into the minute details of what happened, for this would take us afar from the topic of this paper, the main reasons for the brothers’ departure can be mentioned in passing. First, there was a clash between indigenous African values and western values. Secondly, there was lack of genuine dialogue between the brothers being formed and the formators themselves.