Synthesis: Mutaul Knolwledge – The Latin American Federations
The Mexican Federation of Our Lady of Guadalupe & Our Father Francis, Federation of Our
Lady of the Angels, Mexico, The Federation of St. Clare, Mexico, Federation of the Monasteries of
Colombia, Federation of Immaculate Conception of Peru, the Federation of Sacred Family, Brazil,
Federation of St. Mary of the Angels of Cono Sur: Paraguay, Uruguay, Chile and Argentina
Number of Monasteries: 96, and 2 Federations
Total Number of Sisters: 1.708
Average Number of sisters in each monastery: 16
The median age: 45
Number of sisters who have taken formation: 1.152
Number of extern sisters: 50 (only in Colombia),
Number of simple professed: 170
Novices: 94
Postulants: 81.
Aspirants: 5 (for the last five years)
Admissions: 256
Exits: 66
Exclaustrations: 8
Dispensations: 23
Changed the Monastery: 27
Died: 66
Solemn Profession among three Federations: 61
Simple Profession among three Federations: 72
Growth in the last five years: 100
Future Possibilities in the Federations:
The need for a house of formation. There already exists a formation course, particularly for
the human formation, in the initial and on-going formation. There is also the possibility of having
vocations.
Problems:
Problems of personal for the monasteries not erected, monasteries with sisters in advanced
age and having less personal, and they can sustain themselves only temporarily. The workload in
the monasteries is so much that it affects the commitment to human and spiritual formation and
prevents to have periodical courses at the federal level. The difficulty to care for the old and the
sick. The difficulty to have space and time suited to Federal Meetings. The necessity of formation
of the formators and abbesses. Problems of Monasteries not yet federated. The difference in the
living of the vow of poverty among the solemnly and temporarily professed (extern sisters), and
therefore there ought to be a general constitutional legislation on the vow of poverty. Financial
problems in several Federations. The necessity to have an openness in the community especially
with the difficult vocations. It is advisable that some of the elements of formation could be had
along with the Friars Minor.