{"id":6336,"date":"2026-10-19T06:11:27","date_gmt":"2026-10-19T10:11:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tertiarysisters.org\/?p=6336"},"modified":"2026-10-19T06:11:27","modified_gmt":"2026-10-19T10:11:27","slug":"shisong-franciscan-family-celebrates-solemnity-of-st-francis-with-call-to-be-custodians-of-creation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tertiarysisters.org\/de\/shisong-franciscan-family-celebrates-solemnity-of-st-francis-with-call-to-be-custodians-of-creation\/","title":{"rendered":"Shisong Franciscan Family Celebrates Solemnity of St. Francis With Call to Be &#8216;Custodians of Creation&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The Franciscan Family in Shisong, Cameroon celebrated the Solemnity of our Seraphic Father, St. Francis of Assisi, in a profound atmosphere of faith, joy and fraternal communion. This year\u2019s celebration was held within the exceptional context of the Franciscan Jubilee Year \u2013 the 8th Centenary of the Transitus of St. Francis (1226-2026), making it a historic and grace-filled moment for the entire Franciscan Family worldwide.<\/p>\n<p>The celebration, which united the Tertiary Sisters of St. Francis (TSSF), Capuchin Friars Minor, Novices, Postulants, Students and the Secular Franciscan Order, was marked by a nine-day spiritual novena culminating in the solemn Eucharistic celebration on October 4th.<\/p>\n<h3>A Spiritual Journey Through Franciscan Virtues<\/h3>\n<p>Each day of the novena was dedicated to a core Franciscan virtue, animated by the Capuchin Friars:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Day 1 \u2013 On Faith by Br. Dor:\u00a0 A reflection on the unwavering faith of St. Francis in the Church and St. Clare in the Blessed Sacrament.<\/li>\n<li>Day 2 \u2013 On Hope by Br. Ignatius Kenso: Br. Ignatius described hope as the virtue by which we trust that God keeps His promises. \u201cGod does not abandon His children&#8230; Do not give up. God is still with you.\u201d<\/li>\n<li>Day 3 \u2013 On Charity by Br. Achilis Ntumnyuy: Charity, he said, is the soul of Franciscan life \u2013 loving as God loves, without measure and without condition.<\/li>\n<li>Day 4 \u2013 On Prayer by Br. Mbimenyuy Yufenyuy: \u201cIt is not the quantity but the quality of our prayers that matters.\u201d<\/li>\n<li>Day 5 \u2013 On Humility: Jesus is the teacher and model of humility. \u201cWe are either humble or we stumble.\u201d<\/li>\n<li>Day 6 \u2013 On Fraternity and Community Life by Br. Francis Dor: Community is a gift, echoing Psalm 133 and Pope Francis\u2019 _Fratelli Tutti_.<\/li>\n<li>Day 7 \u2013 On the Grace of Poverty by Br. Achilis Ntumnyuy: Poverty is self-emptying to be filled with Jesus.<\/li>\n<li>Day 8 \u2013 On Loving Obedience by Br. Mbimenyuy Yufenyuy: In obedience we offer our will as a sacrifice to God whom we love above all.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-6340 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/tertiarysisters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/2026-10-19-st-francis-8-Large.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1280\" height=\"960\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tertiarysisters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/2026-10-19-st-francis-8-Large.jpeg 1280w, https:\/\/tertiarysisters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/2026-10-19-st-francis-8-Large-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/tertiarysisters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/2026-10-19-st-francis-8-Large-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/tertiarysisters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/2026-10-19-st-francis-8-Large-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/tertiarysisters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/2026-10-19-st-francis-8-Large-16x12.jpeg 16w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/h3>\n<h3>The Transitus: Embracing Sister Death \u2013 800 Years On<\/h3>\n<p>The eve of the feast was marked by the moving celebration of the Transitus, preceded by sacramental confessions, the Holy Rosary and psalms.<\/p>\n<p>In his reflection, Br. Mbimenyuy recalled how St. Francis embraced Sister Death 800 years ago at the Portiuncula: \u201cBeyond death there is eternal life as we profess in the Creed (cf. Romans 8:11). Francis\u2019 death is a testimony of evangelical hope.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In a deeply evocative symbol, a Franciscan habit was laid on the bare floor in front of the altar of Shisong Parish Church, adorned with flowers and lighted candles by TSSF Novices and Capuchin Postulants, representing St. Francis as he lay on the bare earth during his Transitus at Our Lady of the Angels 800 years ago. This was followed by the sharing of traditional \u201ccry-die corn\u201d according to local culture.<\/p>\n<h3><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-6339 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/tertiarysisters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/2026-10-19-st-francis-4-Large.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1280\" height=\"960\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tertiarysisters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/2026-10-19-st-francis-4-Large.jpeg 1280w, https:\/\/tertiarysisters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/2026-10-19-st-francis-4-Large-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/tertiarysisters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/2026-10-19-st-francis-4-Large-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/tertiarysisters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/2026-10-19-st-francis-4-Large-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/tertiarysisters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/2026-10-19-st-francis-4-Large-16x12.jpeg 16w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/h3>\n<h3>October 4th: Solemnity and Final Profession in the Jubilee Year<\/h3>\n<p>The climax was a beautifully animated liturgy by the students of St. Anthony of Padua College, Shisong and St. Francis College, Shisong.<\/p>\n<p>During the Eucharistic celebration, five members of the Secular Franciscan Order made their Final Profession into the Fraternity of St. Elisabeth of Hungary, in the hands of the Minister, Mr. William Wirngo.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-6338\" src=\"https:\/\/tertiarysisters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/2026-10-19-st-francis-2-Large-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tertiarysisters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/2026-10-19-st-francis-2-Large-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/tertiarysisters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/2026-10-19-st-francis-2-Large-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/tertiarysisters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/2026-10-19-st-francis-2-Large-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/tertiarysisters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/2026-10-19-st-francis-2-Large-16x12.jpeg 16w, https:\/\/tertiarysisters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/2026-10-19-st-francis-2-Large.jpeg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/>Each received the symbols of their vocation: the San Damiano Crucifix, the Bible, lighted candles, a symbolic ring and the Tau of St. Francis.<\/p>\n<p>In his homily, Fr. Cornelius Bamenjo, OFMCap, linked the Jubilee to our present responsibility: \u201cUnlike Francis, we have sinned against nature and need to go on our knees to ask forgiveness from nature. Francis\u2019 love for nature is central in Pope Francis\u2019 <em>Laudato Si\u2019,<\/em> which calls for radical ecological conversion.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He launched the Jubilee challenge: \u201cOperation Plant an Avocado Tree in Shisong.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Provincial Superior, Sr. Olivia Waika, thanked all and congratulated the newly professed: \u201cFranciscans have stood the test of time and, like Francis, bring peace and hope.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The celebration continued with a festive fraternal meal and social activities in the Parish Hall. Held within this exceptional Jubilee Year, this year\u2019s feast was outstanding in participation, animation and spiritual depth.<\/p>\n<p>Through the intercession of St. Francis, in this Jubilee Year, may we become instruments of peace and custodians of creation.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The celebration united the Tertiary Sisters of St. Francis, Capuchin Friars Minor, Novices, Postulants, Students and the Secular Franciscan Order.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6337,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6336","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tertiarysisters.org\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6336","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tertiarysisters.org\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tertiarysisters.org\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tertiarysisters.org\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tertiarysisters.org\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6336"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/tertiarysisters.org\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6336\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6342,"href":"https:\/\/tertiarysisters.org\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6336\/revisions\/6342"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tertiarysisters.org\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6337"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tertiarysisters.org\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6336"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tertiarysisters.org\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6336"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tertiarysisters.org\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6336"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}