Capuchin Ministries

Diversity:

Capuchin Franciscans have numerous ministerial sites in the New York and New England area. We minister in suburban, rural and inner city parishes; elementary, high school and college teaching; retreat ministry; social work; hospital ministry; prisons/correctional facilities; and ministry to day laborers. We also are missioners in this country, Honduras in Central America, Guam in the Mariana Islands, the Hawaiian Islands and Ryukyu Islands in Japan.

Many Opportunities:

Both Capuchin Franciscan brothers and priests minister in urban, rural and suburban parishes, serving poor, blue collar and middle class, people of color and the impoverished. It is our Capuchin Franciscan fraternity which often makes us different from diocesan parishes. We strive to share the brotherhood we enjoy among ourselves with members of parishes where we minister.

As times changed, so did the neighborhoods of our traditional city parishes. Quickly, Capuchin Franciscans strove to include African-Americans, Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, Dominicans and many others from Third World countries as well as this country, into parish life. Today, as waves of new immigrants enter our country Capuchin Franciscans stand prepared to meet the needs of new groups that decide to make America their home. The poorest of the poor always catch a Capuchin Franciscan's eye. We provide direct services to the hungry and homeless. Capuchin Franciscans try to turn the tide of addiction with drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs. As AIDS spreads a dark cloud over the Continent of Africa, Capuchin Franciscans reach out in compassion and strength. Each of the seven Capuchin Franciscan provinces of North America allows its members to participate in the missions of the other six. This means Capuchin Franciscans can be missioners in Central America, Africa and the Pacific. Both brothers and priests have tremendous opportunities for missionary outreach.

Learning From the Poor:

Many people focus on what Capuchin Franciscans do for the poor. However, Capuchin Franciscan spirituality emphasizes that we learn from the poor. We need to experience them and their plight to fully evangelize ourselves. Since their plight reveals injustice in modern society, it shows how much more we need the gospel to touch us before the kingdom of God can more fully take place on earth.

Varied Ministries:

From our beginnings in 1528, Capuchin Franciscans have been eminent preachers. Today, many of us preach in parishes as well as in giving retreats, days of recollection, etc. We have recently placed a great deal of emphasis on an urban retreat ministry in order to give opportunities to the poor, to strengthen their spiritual life.

Also, both our brothers and priests minister in a more varied program of preaching including AA and healing retreats. We conduct retreats for groups as diverse as religious sisters, married couples and teenagers. Capuchin Franciscans are involved in education at all levels: elementary school through graduate studies. Those with higher degrees teach in colleges, universities and seminaries throughout the country. Capuchin Franciscans tend to spiritual needs as chaplains for a variety of institutions. Both brothers and priests serve the physically ill as hospital chaplains. Our jail and prison chaplains comfort the imprisoned and our military chaplains support the spiritual and emotional needs of our service men and women. Students are nourished with more than books and lectures by our campus ministers.

Capuchin Franciscans are very aware that we are not a church unto ourselves. Our church is full of new and exciting ministries performed by many different people. Capuchin Franciscans pledge themselves to cooperate with other religious and laity, and invite them to share in our ministries.

Capuchin Franciscans are becoming increasingly involved in ministries concerning justice, peace and ecology. It is not surprising that men whose origins go back to Francis of Assisi would find themselves in this kind of work. While some Capuchin Franciscans devote themselves full-time to this work, we all strive to make justice, peace and ecology an aspect of all our ministries, whatever they may be.

Men of Action:

As you can see, we are men of action. We are diverse men who do diverse ministries.

In this tradition of service, Capuchin Franciscans find their purpose, inspiration and hope.