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Minor Brothers Ecumenical Fraternity FRANCISCAN ECUMENICAL FRATERNITY
The Minor Brothers Ecumenical Fraternity (Franciscan Ecumenical Fraternity) is a Third Order founded in Seville (Spain) on the 14th January 1991 with the approval of the Diocesan Bishop, The Most Rev. Arturo Sanchez Galán, by Bros. Ray St. Clair Dwyer and Pablo Manuel Álvarez, tertiaries of the Society of St. Francis.The Tertiary brothers and sisters are spread throughout the whole territory of Spain and there is also fervent communities in Cardenas (Matanzas) Cuba, and in Uruguay under the direction of their Minister Provincials. The present Minister General lives in the Fraternity in Seville.
This community of men and women, single and married, lay or ordained is engaged in social works and evangelization through Retreats and meetings.
Apart from other activities they meet on Tuesdays to meditate the Word of God as well as on every Sunday to celebrate the Holy Eucharist and for ministrations of the sick. Its members belong to different Christian churches (Anglicans, Orthodox, Roman-Catholics, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, etc.)
The purpose as Tertiaries is to support the surrender of their lives to Christ and to give witness to the evangelical life at home and in the different occupations to which they believe they have been called by God, declaring Him always to be the only and sufficient Saviour.
The M.B.E.F. (F.E.F). is a family centered in Christ who, as well as being committed to their respective churches, pray and work together, for the Unity of Christians, the propagation of the Gospel and the giving of food to the needy who come to them. It is a union of joy, love and interdependence.
The Associates are persons who, not feeling called to join an Order, feel the need for a Franciscan dimension in their lives and are linked to the community by means of their literature and their relations with the brothers and sisters, whom they aid in the social work.
The ECUMENICAL CENTRE SHALOM was founded in 1996 by brother Pablo Manuel Alvarez given the pressing need in this city for a base where Christians of different denominations could meet regularly. The Centre publishes an Information Sheet, "Agape". It meets the first Tuesday of each month to talk about texts of the Holy Scriptures and to pray for the Unity of Christians.