"Little Brothers" by Pedro Oliveira Pinto

Pedro Oliveira Pinto is an Associate of the Order of Franciscan Hermits who lives in Lisbon, Portugal. He has an interesting story about how the Franciscan Family helped him in his healing process through his artwork...

"The idea of making these "Little Brothers" came about... after my left hand surgery, because my hand was almost paralyzed. But the idea came with a promise, to a dear brother and friend (Capuchin) Father Martin, who is in Assisi now and who introduced me to the Franciscan spirituality. I can also tell you that it was thanks to my Franciscan brothers and friends, especially Brother Gregory Lefay, that I was motivated to make the "Little Brothers". In fact, my art is a tribute to all the work and dedication of the Franciscan Brothers from all over the world, for whom I have great recognition and admiration. And it was my Franciscan friends who gave me enough strength and courage to move on after I had a serious heart problem at the age of 41, that changed my life forever... Every "Little Brother" I make is a real therapy for me, and I give all the care and dedication that my Franciscan friends really deserve. And each one of them is like a new friend that I create. But many of them are Little Brothers created in the image of true Franciscan friars (OFM, OFMCap and Conv). And some have already been sent to the real brothers.... Some of them went to an exhibition at the Franciscan Seminary in Lisbon, called "Franciscans in the World".