At this most wonderful time of the year 

I hope you know of my gratitude and love for you and the love and gratitude of all those whose lives you touch through Franciscan Missions. You will never meet the poor in the missions, but you have stood by them when they needed you. You have given them hope for a better future. They will always be grateful for your loving generosity.

Today, I need you to stand with us once more this Christmas to touch the lives of over 240 Christian families trapped in a region of Syria served by our missionary friars. Three brave Franciscan friars serve this Christian community in three isolated villages in the fringes of Syria. The area is controlled by extremists. All the other Christian ministers and priests have left the area, and for good reason. Many Christians have been kidnapped and murdered, including one of our own friars. Christians are forbidden to celebrate their faith openly and cannot display any Christian symbols. Christian women must dress in a manner required by the extremists. 

A Request for Help

Young-child-in-Aleppo-Syria

A Syrian child enjoying a daily meal of rice and beans in a make-shift apartment (bomb shelter).

As the weather turns cold many of the Syrian people are seriously seeking help. Food is desperately needed to help these families survive. Among the many people there, Christians are not allowed to work or to own or sell property. Under these extreme circumstances, our friars are committed to distribute food to 240 families (almost 1,000 people). The monthly food distribution consists of beans, oil, and rice. The cost per month for each family is only about $10 USD!

Every $10 you share will feed a family for an entire month! Feed a family for six months with a gift of $60 or for twelve months with $120! You can feed two families for a year with your gift of $240! Your gift will help provide the lifesaving gift of emergency food. Please, let the hungry and suffering know that they are not alone! It is my hope and Christmas prayer that you will support our brave missionary friars in Syria as they serve people trapped under extraordinary circumstances. Will you please stand with them in their time of need?

Your prayers and financial support will keep hope alive in the hearts of the innocent people living through the horror and the tragedy of these times. They will always remember – that it was your love and generosity that helped them survive. Please stand by them and they will always be grateful!

The friars will remember you in their daily prayers with love and gratitude, especially at Christmastime. God bless you this Christmas and always.

Gratefully yours,

Bro. Andrew Brophy, OFM

Executive Director

P.S.  Please send a generous Christmas gift today to help our Franciscan missionaries provide lifesaving food to innocent people living in Syria and at our Franciscan missions around the world.