By Odiwuor Opiyo

For more than three years now, we have lived the Capuchin experience listening to uplifting Catholic music and having Mass celebrated in our living rooms through Capuchin TV. The pioneer Catholic TV station aired Masses on Sunday when Covid-19 hit and the Church, with a directive banning all religious gatherings in a bid to limit the spread of the virus, faced restrictions.

However, one may ask the meaning of the word ‘Capuchin’ or who are the Capuchins? Fr Stephen Makagutu OFMCap. explains to The Seed that the Capuchins, as they are commonly known, is a male religious order of Franciscan friars within the Catholic Church, and one of the three ‘First Orders’ of Franciscans, whose ministry is modelled around the simple and meditative life of St. Francis of Assisi.

He explains that the charism of The Order of Friars Minor Capuchin, abbreviated as O.F.M. Cap is anchored on three pillars; to live a simple life based on minority, brotherhood and ministering to the poor of the poorest.