Mission Statement
Franciscan Fire
Living and proclaiming the Gospel
   is our goal. We do so:
as brothers to each other
   and to the world;
Living with and for the poor;
Promoting justice, peace and
   the care of creation.
Working with all women and men
   of good will;
Inviting them to share
   our Franciscan spirit.
Facing our future with hope,
   we echo
Francis of Assisi who said,
   "Let us begin again."
 
Franciscan life is about people: those to whom we minister, those with whom we work, family and friends who support and inspire us. Gallery is a look at the faces of our province and the events that shape our lives as friars.
  Guadalupe celebration at St. Mary’s in Bloomington, Ill., Dec. 13, 2009  

“It takes a lot of preparation, but it’s worth all the effort,” Fr. Gregg Petri, OFM, says of the annual celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which includes many of the children of the parish.
PHOTO BY BARB ADELMAN
“It takes a lot of preparation, but it’s worth all the effort,” Fr. Gregg Petri, OFM, says of the annual celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which includes many of the children of the parish.
Parishioners of St. Mary’s in Bloomington joined together to commemorate the 16th-century appearances of Our Lady of Guadalupe to St. Juan Diego.
PHOTO BY BARB ADELMAN
Parishioners of St. Mary’s in Bloomington joined together to commemorate the 16th-century appearances of Our Lady of Guadalupe to St. Juan Diego.
Presider Fr. Gregg spent much of his ministry serving Hispanic people in the Southwest before moving to Bloomington.
PHOTO BY BARB ADELMAN
Presider Fr. Gregg spent much of his ministry serving Hispanic people in the Southwest before moving to Bloomington.
“It was our biggest one yet,”  Fr. Gregg says of this year’s celebration, which culminated in an actual feast, a free meal served to 650 people.
PHOTO BY BARB ADELMAN
“It was our biggest one yet,”  Fr. Gregg says of this year’s celebration, which culminated in an actual feast, a free meal served to 650 people.
Dancers and mariachis contributed to the pageantry of the feast day.
PHOTO BY BARB ADELMAN
Dancers and mariachis contributed to the pageantry of the feast day.
One of the younger participants offers the sign of peace
PHOTO BY BARB ADELMAN
One of the younger participants offers the sign of peace
Frs. Aquinas and Ric Schneider of St. Mary’s take in the festivities.
PHOTO BY BARB ADELMAN
Frs. Aquinas and Ric Schneider of St. Mary’s take in the festivities.
A quiet moment at the foot of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
PHOTO BY BARB ADELMAN
A quiet moment at the foot of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Province of St. John the Baptist of the Order of Friars Minor ©2005