Mission Voices
Building Hope: Expanding the Saint Benedict African School Complex in the Democratic Republic of Congo
A Place to Learn, A Future to Hope For In a quiet community outside Lubumbashi, Congo, the dream of education often feels impossibly far away. City schools—too expensive, too distant—are simply not an [...]
Keeping the Faith in the Amazon: The São Francisco Mission and the Indigenous Munduruku People
The Franciscan Mission Serving the Munduruku For over a century, Franciscan friars have walked alongside the Munduruku people in the Brazilian Amazon, serving as spiritual guides, educators, and advocates. Located in the extremely [...]
From Crisis to Care: Flood Relief in the Philippines
When relentless rains began on July 13, 2024, no one could have imagined the devastation to come. Within hours, the once-vibrant communities of Pagalungan, Dungguan, and Datu Montawal were underwater. Families fled to safety, [...]
Small Acts, Big Impacts: Serving the Ati Families in the Philippines
Small Acts, Big Impacts: Serving the Ati Families in the Philippines The Ati of Panay Island have endured generations of hardship, living in extreme poverty and facing systemic oppression. Many parents struggle to find [...]
Empowering Education and Faith in Vietnam
The Franciscan Friars of the Province Saint Francis of Vietnam are celebrating a milestone in their mission to support the education and spiritual growth of poor ethnic students in Laos. Thanks to our incredible [...]
Empowering Future Franciscan Leaders in India: A Journey of Formation and Faith
From January 2023 to May 2024, the Franciscan Brothers' formation program in India nurtured 151 students, at various stages of their formation, preparing them to embody values rooted in humanity, Christianity, and the Franciscan [...]
Faith in Action: A Community’s Journey to Complete the San Vicente Church in the Philippines
In a place where faith often meets challenge, Br. Rolando K. Abas, OFM, set out to renovate the San Vicente Quasi-Parish Church in Balo-i, Lanao del Norte, with a vision for more than just [...]
Medicine, Meals, and Much More: How Fr. Daniel’s Team Brought Hope to 175 Ati Families on Panay Island, Philippines
Franciscan Health Care Crossing Borders Incorporated (FHCCBI) and Friends of Francis and Clare recently stepped into the lives of the Ati indigenous peoples on Panay Island, offering medical aid and feeding programs to a [...]
Transforming Lives Through Education in La Libertad’s Remote Highlands, Philippines
In the heart of the mountainous region of La Libertad, Negros Oriental, students wanting a high school education faced daunting challenges. Students had to travel two hours down the mountain to attend school, a [...]
Scholarships are shaping the next generation in Santo Nino Pastoral Station in the Philippines
In the quiet, rugged mountains of Santo Nino, over 10,000 indigenous people make their lives in a farming community where dreams of higher education often feel as distant as the clouds. But in the [...]
Providing Essential Services and Strengthening the Bonds of Community for Women and Children in the Philippines
In partnership with Christ the King College, the Franciscan Friars led by Fr. Prisco A. Cajes, OFM, embarked on a mission to uplift the communities of Brgy. Tapa-e and Barangay Progress on Biri Island, [...]
Serving Hope and Healing: The Recoleta Franciscan Friary’s Impact in Chile
In Chile, the Recoleta Franciscan friary serves as a beacon of hope and support for the homeless, migrants, and vulnerable elderly populations. The site functions as a center for prayer, meditation, and various social [...]
Over 800 Lives Touched: Supporting Victims of Natural Disasters in Kinablangan, Philippines
With your generous support, the Franciscan Friars have significantly impacted Kinablangan, Philippines, by providing food and aid to victims of natural disasters. Friars like Bro. Mark Joy Basallajes and Fr. Leo Aporbo have reached [...]
Empowering India: Nourishing Bodies and Minds of Patients with HIV/AIDS, and their Children
In the heart of India, the Franciscan Friars, Fr. Anthony Rooban Doss OFM, Fr. Charles Arulanandam, and Sr. Nirmala FMM (Franciscan Missionaries of Mary), along with the dedicated team at the FMM sisters in [...]
A Gift of Safe Drinking Water in Argentina
The Franciscan missionaries of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin province requested a financial grant in early 2021. The grant request outlined a significant project to supply safe drinking water to schools and community centers [...]
St. Bonaventure Church in Tanzania
St. Bonaventure Catholic Church rises above the boulders and trees. Just southeast of Lake Victoria and Mwanza, Tanzania, a beautiful, multistory structure stands surrounded by large boulders and marula trees. The new St. Bonaventure [...]
The Journey to the Cross Begins Palm Sunday
When was the last time that your church was filled to capacity with young people who were present voluntarily to sing, pray, and to celebrate their Faith? I was privileged to attend the annual twilight Palm Sunday Youth [...]
Our Protector and Guide
My earliest memory of St Joseph goes all the way back to the 1950s in my Detroit family home when I would silently watch my father on his knees praying a rosary in front of a picture [...]
Come Back to Me With All Your Heart
The past week was rather quiet and relaxed because our holy novices went off to experience a week long Ignatian Retreat at the Da Lat Diocesan Pastoral Center. The Diocese maintains a spacious retreat and conference facility as [...]
Laos, the Country Cousin of Vietnam
I arrived in Vientiane, Laos from Da Lat by way of Hanoi where I stayed overnight. My adventures started right after I checked into the small boutique hotel with a tall glass of iced coffee, [...]
Reconnecting…we are one body.
This past week was filled with multiple events the first of which was my 71st birthday on February 6. It is certainly a sobering thought to realize that so many years have passed by. I was so [...]
The Anticipation is Growing . . . You can almost taste it . . .
Anticipation is growing, day by day for the celebration of the Tet Holiday. The Lunar New Year is a combination of Christmas, New Year, Thanksgiving, Fourth of July, and Super Bowl Sunday on steroids! The three-day celebration actually melds into [...]
Vietnam My Capistrano
The miracle of the "Swallows of Capistrano" takes place each year at Mission San Juan Capistrano in California. The birds migrate 6,000 miles from Argentina to San Juan Capistrano in large numbers. The return of [...]
Educating Success in Kenya
Yes, we can do it! This is the shortest way to express the success of our students, who made great results on national exams at the end of schooling. These students are from the [...]
Our Kindergarten is A Big Success
Our work, as Franciscan missionaries, is to help the poorest of the poor around the world, and our mission in the village of Kivumu, Rwanda is among these places. I can only admire these people. [...]
Kindergarten Uniforms for Our Children
Now that the Padri Vjeko Kindergarten is up and running, we turn our attention to creating uniforms for our young children. The children range in age from three to five years old, so we have [...]
Thinking Outside the Box
I have been a missionary in Africa for the past twenty-seven years. What I like most about my work as a missionary is that I get to live and work with the people that I [...]
Staying Connected
Jesus had a quality of ministry that caused society's so called "perfect" people to feel uncomfortable, and chose not to be connected with Him. Jesus connected with society's so called "imperfect" people – women in [...]
Where is Jesus?
It’s hard to imagine anyone being more connected to God than Francis of Assisi. His conversion experience began with a mourning period after his plans for knighthood, fame and glory were shattered. This period turned [...]
A Little Boy Discovered
There are so many mission stories that touch my heart and impact my life. For example, the story of a little boy in Ecuador, whose mother left him at home alone, from the time that [...]
English 
Español de México