Frei Hermano Filipe recounts his life-changing encounter

Hermano Filipe, a member of the Fraternidade dos Frades Menores Capuchinhos, shared how a request for a book led to his religious vocation. While studying geography, he visited the fraternity in Gondomar to research São Francisco de Assis as the patron saint of ecologists. This encounter introduced him to a lifestyle of simplicity and sobriety.

His time in Timor and the challenges of scarce resources provided the context for him to translate the encyclical Laudato Si by Pope Francisco. During the pandemic in Portugal, he served as a hospital chaplain and also experienced being a patient. After leading the Caravana da Esperança through Bragança-Miranda, he now serves the Church in Samora Correia.