A Franciscan Response to a Growing Crisis

Just off the bustling streets of Buenos Aires, tucked near the Convent of San Francisco de Asís, you’ll find something unexpected: hope.

Since 2014, the friars of the Franciscan Province of the Assumption have been running a lifeline for those the world too often overlooks. It’s called El Buen Samaritano—The Good Samaritan—and it lives up to its name. 

Every week, nearly 150 individuals—children, adults, the elderly—find their way to the convent. Some are Argentine nationals; others are migrants from Venezuela, Bolivia, Peru, or Paraguay. Among them are transgender individuals facing rejection and violence; and mothers and fathers trying to protect their children from the harshest edges of the world. 

An additional 80 families benefit indirectly through the distribution of food and hygiene items.

They come from different places, but they share one reality: the crushing weight of poverty and displacement. And that burden is growing.

The pandemic, coupled with Argentina’s economic crisis, has only made the most vulnerable even harder to see. People—good people—who, for any number of reasons, have slipped through the cracks.

Meeting People Where They Are

Every Friday at 4 p.m., the friars and volunteers gather. Together, they pray, serve, and listen. 

In this space, a hot meal is paired with a chance to shower, do laundry, or select clean clothes from the shelves. Legal aid is offered, whether for missing documents or asylum applications. A social worker helps guests navigate the tangled web of government support. A psychologist provides counsel for those facing trauma, addiction, or violence. 

This work smells like soup and bleach and coffee. It sounds like laughter between volunteers and the quiet voice of someone asking for a blanket. It feels like a clean shirt, a warm meal, and the comfort of hearing your name spoken with care.

The People Behind the Project

Led by the Franciscan Friars of the Convent, the project runs on faith, generosity, and a small army of volunteers. Food comes from the Province of the Assumption, the city government, and kindhearted individuals. Clothing is donated by Franciscan Educational Centers.

This is work that nourishes both body and spirit. Friars offer companionship and prayers. Groups share stories, laughter, and sometimes, tears.

The Quiet Work of Dignity

In a city of millions, El Buen Samaritano offers something rare: a place to be seen and known. A space where those who are poor in spirit—and in everything else—can find not just help, but home. 

In 2021 alone, the project supported more than 200 people each week. Some found a way out of homelessness. Others simply found a place to rest. Still others were able to recover legal documents, stabilize their lives, and reconnect with the support they’d lost.

The work continues, just as it has since 2014. And with your help, it will continue for years to come.

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