Our Catholic Church is a Franciscan formation missionary church! You and I are sent forth by Jesus himself to share the Good News to the ends of the earth. He also sends us to care for the poor. Supporting our Franciscan missionaries who serve the poor everyday around the world is like thanking Jesus ahead of time for the blessings and graces he has and will bestow upon you. It is the gift of love infused into us by the Holy Spirit. Love unites, love is a common language, by means of love we can speak to our all nations missionary. You are a missionary walking alongside your Franciscan formation! The Franciscan Order is blessed to have God continue to call young men from around the world to walk in the footsteps of St. Francis and share the Good News as Franciscan missionaries.

A Great Need in Sri Lanka

Our Lady of Lanka friary in Ampitiya, Sri Lanka, has been the house of studies for novices of the Franciscan Foundation of St. Joseph Vas. It was in this house that young men in formation lived as they studied at the nearby national seminary to become Franciscan missionary friars. A few years ago, disaster struck the friary. During heavy rainstorms, a mudslide crashed into the friary and destroyed the dormitory. It also brought several trees crashing into roof of the house! By the grace of God, none of the 10 formation students nor any of the friars in residence were hurt. They were celebrating Mass in the adjacent chapel, which was not damaged.

The local government has condemned the building as unsafe. The Franciscans formation have purchased land that is nowhere near a hillside to construct a new friary and formation house.  Construction began but was halted because of the worldwide pandemic. The foundation for the new friary and formation house has been laid and the walls are partially up! But the friars there need an additional $75,000 to finish the new building, which will be able to accommodate the increasing number of novices.

Together, We Can Speak To All Nations

I trust you can sense our hope and joy at the success of this formation program that has so many young men answering the call. There are many more formation houses I could tell you about. The blessing of many young friars brings the challenges of feeding and educating them, as well as providing space for them to live and study. We need your prayers and steadfast financial support now to help rebuild this new friary and formation house for the young men God calls to serve as Franciscan missionaries in Sri Lanka. Construction can begin again!

Your generous gift to rebuild the formation house is a gift that will help generations of young friars for years and years to come! Each one of these friars will serve God and the poor for his entire lifetime. Please give a generous gift today for our all nations missionary. Through your gift, you are walking beside our missionary friars, serving the poor, and making disciples of missionaries. You will provide much needed space for young friars to pray, eat, sleep, and study. Any gift you can offer will bless the Catholic Church with vocations and will also give hope and comfort to the poor through the service of these new Franciscan missionaries.

Walk With Our Franciscan Formation

The generosity and faith of these young men are living examples of servants being called forth by Jesus himself to share the Good News to the ends of the earth. Please walk with them on their journey. These young men need you to be with them. They have little to offer in return except a daily remembrance in their prayers and a promise to follow the Lord by giving their lives in sacrifice and service to the Church and the poor.

Yours in our Lord,

Brother Andrew Brophy, OFM

Executive Director

P.S. May I ask that you continue thanking Jesus for the blessings and graces he has and will bestow upon you by supporting our Franciscan formation students? These men of faith and hope willingly give their lives in service to people in greatest need. Please offer them your love and generous support today.

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