Donate – Select “[24A8FM] Following in the Footsteps of St. Francis“

Franciscan Friar Pynsuk, OFM of the Province of Saint Thomas the Apostle in India has responded, “Here I am, Lord, take me!”

Thanks to your prayers and generosity, Friar Pynsuk is studying for the priesthood. He is in his 3rd year of philosophy and is working for Christ as a young friar.

As a child, he was raised by a single mother who was the sole provider for her four children. As a devout Catholic family, they said daily prayers in their mother tongue, Khasi, and they recited the Rosary every evening. Every morning, Pynsuk’s mother woke the children up early to walk about 3 miles to their parish church to attend Mass.

During that time in his life, Pynsuk attended many parish retreats and seminars for children, and he was very active in the choir and music ministry. It was at this time that he felt Christ’s initial call to follow him and serve the Church.

Friar Pynsuk joined the Franciscan Order in 2019. He was attracted to the Franciscan understanding of our faith; the Franciscan challenge of humility and simplicity; and the Franciscan ministry with the poor.

As a student of philosophy, he sings and plays the guitar or piano during daily Mass. Apart from his studies, he is involved in some other ministries. For example, he volunteers to serve the residents living in a home for the aged. He cleans the floors, bathrooms, and other areas of the home, carries firewood, and does other tasks needed.

Pynsuk is extremely happy as a simple professed Franciscan friar. He is very grateful to God for the precious gift of his vocation. He finds joy in being a Franciscan!

Please Donate – Select “[24A8FM] Following in the Footsteps of St. Francis“

Friar Pynsuk is just one example of many young men around the world who are answering Jesus’s call to follow him. Pynsuk is also very grateful to the benefactors who support his formation, because without them, he would not be able to dedicate his life in service to Christ and the Church as a Franciscan missionary friar.

The Franciscan Order has over 2,000 young, energetic, joy-filled men who are ready to let go of everything and embrace the way of life proposed by Saint Francis of Assisi. Many come from poor, developing areas of our world where their Franciscan presence is needed.

I have read many testimonials from men who have joined our order and are being formed and educated to follow in the footsteps of St. Francis. They all share the same joy that is found in living a life of humility, simplicity, and service to the poor.

Please Donate – Select “[24A8FM] Following in the Footsteps of St. Francis“

Donate – Select [24A8FM] Following in the Footsteps of St. Francis

Many provincials have written to me seeking financial assistance to cover the basic costs of providing for the young friars who are studying to become priests or to serve as Franciscan brothers.

Unless they receive major outside assistance, they will not be able to meet the costs for the spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral formation of these young men, and many may be turned away.

On average, it costs about $4,000 per year to educate and form a young Franciscan seminarian to serve as a missionary priest. This is a great value. In the United States, it can cost as much as $50,000 for a year of seminary education!

Our Franciscan seminarians are striving to be faithful, holy witnesses to Jesus Christ. Will you walk with them down this difficult road as they follow Christ?

Do you see why the blessing of over 2,000 young men in formation presents us with a heavy financial burden? But together with you, we can carry it joyfully and gratefully.

I am writing to a very select group of Franciscan friends. I am asking you to please consider making a significant sacrifice today so that our Church may have good, holy, and healthy young priests in the years ahead.

You can help prepare a young man to dedicate his life to serving God and the poor as a Franciscan! These men are a gift of hope and new life for the Church. The healing touch of Jesus will live through their work with the poor for many years.

Donate – Select [24A8FM] Following in the Footsteps of St. Francis

You have been so generous in the past. Please help again. A gift of $4,000 to pay for one year of seminary training would be a miracle! And every such miracle would be rewarded with the sponsorship of an individual seminarian.

You will receive the name of the seminarian you are sponsoring, his level of formation, and a simple update on his progress during the formation school year. You will have the option of supporting the same seminarian until he completes his studies. You will help a grateful servant of God who will give his entire life to serving the poor.

Would you be able to give a special gift of $1,000? We have a Legacy Book that contains the names of people who make that gift to help prepare Franciscan missionaries. It is in our Franciscan Missions Chapel to remind our friars and seminarians to pray for the people whose generosity supports them.

Any gift you make will be greatly appreciated!

Your life of charity and caring for others is a sure sign that you, like Friar Pynsuk and St. Francis, are bearing witness to the voice of Jesus through your words and deeds!

I thank God for you, and I thank you with all my heart.

Yours in Christ,

Brother Andrew Brophy, OFM

Executive Director

P.S. Please be generous in your support of our Franciscan students in formation. Any gift you can send would really help! I assure you that our Franciscan priests, brothers, and seminarians are grateful for your prayerful support and remember you in their daily Masses and prayers.