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Franciscan Missions, IncHelping Francis Spread God's Love

Mission Needs

$1200 sponsors an orphan for one year

$500 Medical supplies

$100 one bed for a child

$75 one bicycle for a child

$50 One school uniform and shoes

$15 rice for one month

This is the official web site of the Franciscan Missions, Inc., a fund-raising office of the Order of friars Minor, headquartered in Rome, Italy. Fr. Jose Carballo, OFM is the Minister General of the OFM Franciscans.

Welcome!

Thank you and God bless you for the outstanding help you give the Franciscan priests and brothers in bringing God to the poor of the world.

REQUEST FOR MASSES INTENTIONS

Franciscan Missions is pleased to help you pray for your special intentions.

>>Click here to participate.


THE FRANCISCAN MISSION STORE

We are pleased to announce some new items which have been added to the Franciscan Store.
BOOKS    
Souls Stories
NEW!
Franciscan Saints
NEW!
Mother Mary
NEW!
Lover of Nature St. Francis I Believe
SOFT DOLLS    
St. Francis St. Clare SS Francis and Clare
Tall St. Francis St. Francis and 2 books St. Francis and one book
GREETING CARDS    
Greeting Cards Franciscan Missions offers three sets of twelve greeting cards featuring the art of the the late, internationally acclaimed nature artist, Earl Gustaveson.
     

CREDIT CARD CONTRIBUTIONS

Often the wonderful people who support the work of the Franciscans ask if they are able to make an offering by way of credit card. Click on the "Donate" button below will help enable you to conveiently make a contribution. Thank you.


NEWSLETTER

During the month of August, Catholics have long celebrated the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. The Feast of the Assumption celebrates both the happy departure of Mary from this life by her natural death, and her assumption bodily into heaven.

Who better than Mary can show us the heart of a mother? Her whole being throbbed with divine life from the very beginning, preparing her to become the mother of our Savior. She shared his deep tenderness and compassion for all, especially the poor.

 

Some of the poorest people are 'little people' left orphaned by parents unable to care for them for various reasons; physically, mentally or financially. Through your prayers, special gifts and Mass stipends of ten dollars, or more, the Franciscans are making a huge difference in world, bringing hope to the hopeless and turning sadness into joy.

We will have a special Novena of Masses (honoring Mother Mary) the end of August. You may wish to remember someone who is facing death in the immediate future, with a Novena of Masses—a donation of sixty dollars, or Gregorian Masses for the deceased for one hundred and fifty dollars.

Please, don't forget to remember those who have no one to pray for them, especially the orphans, and the parents who abandoned them for what ever reason.

Fr. Sereno Baiardi, OFM
Director

Elias ... A Baby Boy In A Box


Last year, I shared the story of a little boy in Ecuador, whose mother, a prostitute, left him home alone for hours at a time from the time that he was a baby until approximately age three. One day, like all other days, she left. This time it was different—she didn't return.

A few days passed and it was time to collect the rent. When no one opened the door for the landlord, he entered and discovered the toddler in a cardboard box. A portion of his nose and upper lip had been gnawed by rats. The Landlord said that no one knew that there had been a child living in the room. No one had ever heard him cry.

The landlord took the toddler to the Franciscans. At a hospital they received bad news—he was malnourished and was HIV positive. The good news, no more cardboard boxes with rats! He now had a home and since no one knew what his name was, the Franciscan friars named him Elias, the Greek form of Elijah. Elias—God's little prophet.

Fr. Sereno Baiardi, OFM

God's House

Elias was taken to St. Mary of the Angels—a home for children who are abandoned by their parents. Not just any parent—parents who have AIDS. As Elias grew and learned to walk, he would be the first one to greet guests at his new home. With a hug, sparkling eyes, and without saying a word, he charmed everyone. Perhaps because of the trauma that had occurred in the first year of his life, he had just begun to talk at age six. He was so proud of his room and wanted to show it to every visitor. Elias exuberated God's love. One can only imagine how excited he was when God took him to Heaven just before Easter 2010. Elias died during the night from heart failure. All the children, Fr. Alfonso and staff miss Elias, but know that now he is forever safe in God's house.

God's Plan

When Fr. Alfonso was ordained, little did he know that the very next year God would make him the father to many children. Perhaps he felt a little like Mary when the angel told her that she had found favor with God. And then the angel said, guess what? God has a plan for you—a plan that you may never have thought of before. God's love comes first, and then His plan. As difficult as the plan may be, God is always there and never abandons His children. The children at St. Mary of the Angels Home do not consider themselves to be orphans. They are ONE family, living in ONE house. The reason that they are there is because God's plan includes you, who are helping to give the children that are HIV positive a reason to be positive about life—a reason to hope and a plan for living.

 

 

What Are Your Plans?


"Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble, and prayerful always. When God's children are in need, you be the one to help them out. And get into the habit of inviting guests home for dinner or, if they need lodging, for the night." Romans 12:10-13

God's plan is to make us need each other. You need someone and someone needs you. To make life work, we gotta lean and support—give and take. Working together is God's design for human survival. The Franciscans thank God for you and hope that you realize how important you are in God's plan. Like, Mary—a plan that you might never have thought of—a plan that changes lives.

St. Mary of the Angels – A Little Help Goes A Long Way
$1500 - Sponsors basic needs for a child for one year
$150 - basic needs for one month
$50 - One school uniform $20 - Two pair of shoes

 

 

Thank You


"It only takes a spark to get a fire going and soon all those around can warm up in its glowing." That's how it is with God's love once you've experienced it. And you want to share it. It's contagious, and the Franciscans thank you for all the ways in which you have helped infect people with God's love—love that gave the desperately poor basis things that kept them alive for one more day, week, month and even a year in the missions in South America, Africa and Asia. In many cases, gifts that enabled families to have a home, communities to have a school and parishes to have a church. For the very first time ever. That's what you helped to do. Thank You!

PICTURES OF THE MISSIONS

 

  • Guinea-Bissau is located on the coast of Western Africa.
  • Guinea-Bissau is about the size of Switzerland
  • Guinea-Bissau has about one million people
  • There are 22 dialects spoken in Guinea-Bissau
  • The largest leprosarium in the country was begun by the Franciscans
  • Franciscan Missions has supported the Franciscans work among the lepers for decades
  • There are about 75 residents in the main wing of the leprosarium
  • The Franciscans have built a village for those unable to return to their village
  • The Franciscans help all those allficted with leprosy regardless of sex or religion
  • The village includes a space for a garden
  • Among the residents are children allficted with leprosy
  • The mission also helps those afflcited with AIDS
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Our Missionaries

The Franciscans have 5,400 missionaries and 800 missions throughout the world. They serve the poor in every continent, following in the steps of St. Francis, with a special ministry to people with leprosy, many of whom are children.

Tax-deductilbe checks should be made to

Franciscan Missions
P.O. Box 130
Waterford, WI 53185

In Need of Prayer

Click for Secure Order Form for Mass Requests.

 

Eva Kryzanek has set up a section on ebay to sell religious articles, the proceeds of which benefit the Franciscan Missions. Click here to visit her page.


Thank you for visiting us.
Franciscan Missions, Inc.