The history of the Franciscan Fraternity of Hope is closely linked to the journey of a brother who, in silence and humility, listened to the voice of God in the depths of his heart while living his spiritual path in the United Kingdom. He was not a man of grand gestures or fiery speeches, but someone who sought to live the Gospel with simplicity, trusting that God acts in what is small and hidden. This brother is Br. +Mario, founder and first Minister Custos of the fraternity.
Br. +Mario was born into a home where faith was lived with naturalness and joy. From childhood he learned to recognize God’s presence in prayer, in daily life, and in service to others. That simple and luminous upbringing marked his path in a lasting way.
Over time, he felt an inner call to give himself fully to God. His vocation matured through prayer, study, and fraternal life, until he understood that the Spirit was inviting him to follow Christ in the spirit of Saint Francis and Saint Clare: with a poor, fraternal, and hope‑filled heart.
Throughout his life, he sought to serve with fidelity and dedication. He was a man of constant prayer, attentive listening, and deep trust in God’s mercy. He did not desire to found a work of his own, but to respond sincerely to the call of the Spirit, who moved him to create a space where hope could be lived and shared.
His way of exercising responsibility within the fraternity recalls figures such as Brother Roger of Taizé: an authority without imposition, born of listening, closeness, and fidelity to the Gospel. Like him, our founder understood his service not as a position, but as a presence that encourages, accompanies, and safeguards the common path.
Thus the fraternity was born: not as a human project, but as a gift received. The first brothers and sisters joined him, drawn by his simplicity, serenity, and love for the Gospel. Together they began to live a life of prayer, fraternity, and service, convinced that God continues to act in what is small and that hope is a path that transforms.
Today, his witness continues to inspire us. His life reminds us that true renewal does not arise from confrontation, but from humble fidelity; not from strength, but from trust; not from noise, but from the silence in which God speaks. His example remains for us a guiding light and a reminder that hope always has the final word.
Franciscan Fraternity of Hope 