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. |
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.
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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. |
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NEWSLETTER |
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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!
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PICTURES OF THE MISSIONS |
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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.
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