Our History
"It's a work of God." These are the words Fr. Benedict Groeschel, one of our eight founders, would continually use to describe the growth of our community. This work of God began in 1987, in the South Bronx, with eight men, but has grown to a community of over 140 members and friaries in five different countries. Read more about this work of God we've been so privileged to participate in.
To Live The Gospel
"This is the Rule and Life of the Friars Minor, namely, to observe the Holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ, living in obedience, in poverty, and in chastity." -St. Francis of Assisi, Rule of St. Francis. Through our life of prayer, fraternity, aposotlate, penance, and wholehearted living of the evangelical counsels, the friars have oriented their entire lives toward following the Holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Our Life of Prayer
In their vocation to be disciples of Jesus Christ and true sons of Saint Francis, the friars strive to both individually and communally become authentic men of prayer. Prayer is to be the very heart of the friars’ way of life, such that nothing should be allowed to extinguish the spirit of prayer and devotion.
Our Fraternal Life
Living together as brothers of one family, united in their love of Christ, the friars place their personalities and talents at the service of fraternal life.
As lesser brothers always seeking the least place, the friars serve one another and anticipate each other’s needs, supporting each other through prayer, mutual encouragement, honest communication, and sacrificial service.
Love Of The Poor
Firstly, the friars’ mission is to love and serve the materially poor, most especially the destitute and homeless. Each member of the Community is to be personally and directly involved in hands-on work with the poor.
Preaching The Gospel
The friars’ mission of evangelization in the Church is exercised through preaching, teaching the Holy Gospel and sharing the rich treasures of the Catholic faith with all. Some expressions of this apostolate of evangelization are: providing missionary centers for the poor, street evangelization, parish missions, retreats, days of recollection, pilgrimages, spiritual direction, pastoral counseling, religious education, and sacramental ministry.