Children in Guinea-Bissau

Faithful Departed

We seem to give them back to You, O God,
Who gave them to us.
Yet, as You did not lose them in giving so we do not lose them by their return.
Life is eternal and love immortal and death is only a horizon,
and a horizon is nothing except the limit of our sight.
Lift us up, strong Son of God, that we may see further;
cleanse our eyes that we may see more clearly;
draw us closer to Yourself that we may know ourselves
to be nearer to our loved ones who are with You.

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.

In Need of Prayer

Queen Elizabeth II has awarded three people from Aitape, Papua New Guinea high honors. Bishop Austen Crapp, OFM, with Commander of the Order of the British Empire (C.B.E.), Archbishop Sir Brian Barnes, OFM with Knight Commander of the Order of St. Michael and St. George (G.C.M.G.) and Mr. Robert Parer with Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (K.B.E.) All served with distinction in the 1998 tsunami which destroyed five villages and killed 2200 people.