Capuchin Friars launch bakery project on Fogo Island

The Capuchin Friars of the newly formed Province of San Francesco, headquartered in Milan, have launched a fundraising initiative to build a bakery on Fogo Island in the Cape Verde archipelago.

The project is part of the Catholic Church’s ‘World Mission Day’ efforts for October. The friars have maintained a presence on Fogo Island since 1947, providing healthcare, education, and human promotion. The initiative aims to combat local poverty and unemployment, which have been exacerbated by devastating volcanic eruptions. Currently, the local Capuchin community consists of approximately forty religious members, including three Italians and thirty-seven Cape Verdeans.