On Thursday evening, September 2, the Provincial Council of Our Lady of Guadalupe Province (OLG) met with all the friars living and working with our Navajo brothers and sisters. Father Ron Walter, Provincial Minister, addressed the pressing issues of aging and diminishment which face the province at this time, particularly for those working with the Navajo Nation.
     The purpose of the gathering was to continue planning for the time between now and the inauguration of the new “coast-to-coast” Franciscan province in October 2023. OLG currently has have 11 friars living or working at four different friaries, with other missions served from those places. Two friars from other provinces are part of the mission. With advancing age and a lack of friars available to staff the current array of places, the council members urged the friars to put together a plan which will address the needs of the Navajo people and the friars’ ability to meet those needs.
     Fr. Ron told the friars, "If you’re going to continue to dedicate yourself to ministry here, you’ve got to come up with a concrete plan. It’s got to be practical—practical enough to say how we will take care of ministry if one or the other of us is not here tomorrow.” He cautioned the friars, "One of the things we bind ourselves to is 'how we think things should be.'" He continued, "We have to think outside of the box," Ron said, adding, "You’ve got to tear down the box. Be creative. It’s in seeking creativity that the Spirit can work."
     Following the meeting with the council, the friars engaged in the Navajo mission agreed to meet and begin their work of developing a plan for the future.