Our Mission
It All Began With St. Francis of Assisi
Over 800 years ago, St. Francis came upon a church outside of Assisi, Italy, that was in great disrepair. As he knelt in prayer, a crucifix on one wall spoke to him, telling him to “Go repair my house.” That “house” was God’s people. Francis hoped that his wealthy family would help him serve the poor, but instead, they disowned him. He didn’t know how to fundraise, but he knew how to work with his hands and ask others for charity. Today, the Franciscans are still helping the poor in God’s name.
The Heart of Our Mission
With great love for our Savior, Jesus Christ, our passion to preach the Gospel, and our desire to help our fellow man, Franciscan missionaries know the meaning of hope.
We live it every day.
We have witnessed answers to our prayers in the form of charitable giving and acts of kindness that cannot be explained. Together, we change the lives of the poor and marginalized people in their time of need and continue to offer them a brighter future.
Building a Sustainable Future
Since 1964, our mission fraternity of international Franciscan missionaries, in Waterford, WI, has been committed to preaching the Gospel message, and helping our fellow man.
As we focus on direct financial grant requests from our missions around the world, we continue to shape a strategic vision for our long-term global impact.
Together with the generosity of our benefactors, partnerships among laity in the United States, and other religious organizations, both in the U.S. and overseas, we continue to transform the lives of so many.
Our Impact
Franciscan Missions has over 5,000 missionaries in more than 600 missions on six different continents. We are committed to spreading the
Gospel everywhere we serve.
Funds support orphanages, soup kitchens, medical clinics, sustainable water projects, farms, churches, housing for the poor, and formation of Franciscan students, and so much more.
Learn more about the impact of our work below.
Our Partners
Franciscan Missions partners with Franciscan provinces, orders, and ministries around the world to carry on the work of Christ in the spirit of St. Francis. Learn more about the partners who have helped with our projects.
The Order of Friars Minor (OFM)
The Order of Friars Minor (OFM), founded by St. Francis of Assisi, is a fraternity of friars who give themselves totally to God and profess obedience, poverty, and chastity, to be lived according to the spirit of St Francis. Every project funded by Franciscan Missions is the idea and the work of Franciscan friars around the world with the local community.
The Franciscan Friars (OFM) of Our Lady of Guadalupe Province
The Franciscan friars of Our Lady of Guadalupe is a branch of the worldwide fraternity of the Order of Friars Minor (OFM). Working in urban and rural areas across the United States, Cuba, Puerto Rico and Jamaica, the friars serve in schools, universities, hospitals, prisons, parishes, soup kitchens, retreat centers, and more.
The Secular Franciscan Order (SFO)
The Secular Franciscan Order (SFO), also known as the Third Order, is a worldwide community of lay Catholic men and women striving to follow the example of St. Francis and live the Gospel. They live in the world, not in religious communities, and do not take religious vows. They can be married or single, and work in various professions.
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