Participants at the Damietta Peace Initiative October 2014 Gathering – Pretoria, South Africa

From October 22 – 25, 2014, Friar Jude Winkler, OFM Conv., the Assistant General of the CFC (Conventual Franciscan Conference), participated in a gathering of the Damietta Peace Initiative in Pretoria, South Africa, as the personal representative of the Minister General, Friar Marco Tasca, OFM Conv., along with Friar Michael Lasky, OFM Conv., the head of the Commission of Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation for Our Lady of the Angels Province.
The Damietta Peace Initiative is a movement, founded by Friar Donal Francis O’Mahony, OFM Cap, to help the inhabitants of the Continent of Africa find a peaceful way to deal with their problems. The initiative sponsors groups of 10 – 20 persons of diverse background (religious, tribal, etc.) to discuss common values and to confront differences in a peaceful way. The groups have a Franciscan spiritual guide to make sure that they preserve the values of simplicity and humility. Currently ocated in Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and Zambia, there are over 200 active groups with over 4,000 participants. The initiative hopes to expand into a number of other countries in the near future.
The presence of Friar Jude and Friar Michael at this gathering is a sign of the growing collaboration between the various Franciscan Families in the area of Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation.