Capuchin Friars Leave Barbarano After More Than Four Centuries

Capuchin friars will leave the convent in Barbarano, Salò, between October and November, ending more than four centuries of presence. The move is part of an Order-wide downsizing plan linked to declining numbers of religious members and the need to consolidate resources and communities.

The convent spaces will be handed over to the Brescian association Abitare la Vita, connected to the Fatebenefratelli, for projects supporting people and families in vulnerable situations, including housing solutions. The future of the attached church remains to be defined, while services previously provided by the friars will need to be reorganised for religious communities, healthcare facilities, and diocesan clergy; the outlook for the lay community of the Third Order of Saint Francis is also unclear. Pierlucio Ceresa, general secretary of the Comunità del Garda, said the departure removes a longstanding presence from the western shore and noted the historical role of monastic life in shaping the area’s agricultural and landscape development, including the spread of cypress trees used as windbreaks.
Italian Version