Our Lady of Guadalupe Province hosted two regional meetings this month. On Monday, September 30th and Tuesday, October 1st, friars gathered to prayerfully discern their strengths, hopes, and the future of the Franciscan presence in New Mexico and Arizona. As the Province prepares to restructure and revitalize, joining in a coast-to-coast province, it is tasked with getting its 'house in order.' Important elements of preparing for the coast-to-coast province are to identify the strengths of the Province and community needs in the Southwest.

Using the suggestions from the Plenary Council, the Provincial administration created a survey for friars to vote on their preferred ministries and locations. Each friars was given seven votes to advocate for their ministry and location interests. This process has a spiritual parallel to St. Francis' letter to Brother Leo, "In whatever way it seems better to you to please the Lord God and to follow his footprint and poverty, do it with the blessing of the Lord and my obedience."  The Province continues to prayerfully discerning the best way to please the Lord in its next chapter.