What We Do

St. Francis found much joy in living the Gospel and in his day inspired thousands of men and women to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. In today’s troubled world, Franciscans continue to share the good news of God’s love in ways that we hope will inspire people of our time.

Where We Serve

Franciscans serve where their talents take them – and where the needs are greatest. The 125 friars of St. John the Baptist Province devote their lives to the search for God in a communal life of poverty, prayer, and service to others. We are parish and campus ministers; hospital, military and prison chaplains; teachers and administrators in high schools, colleges and formation programs; writers, artists and musicians; skilled craftsmen; preachers, retreat directors and spiritual advisers; directors of antipoverty programs; and missionaries. Most of the friars of SJB Province live and work in Ohio, Michigan, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Illinois, Texas, and Washington, D.C. Globally, our friars minister in Jamaica and the Philippines. The ministries we sponsor share and reflect our Franciscan values, mission and charism:

SPONSORED MINISTRIES OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PROVINCE

Franciscan Media, Cincinnati, Ohio
One of America’s largest publishers of popular, inspirational and educational Roman Catholic spirituality resources, Franciscan Media seeks to help Christians grow closer to God by creating inspiring and innovative multimedia products in the spirit of St. Francis, meeting individuals where they are on their personal faith journeys. Its flagship publication, St. Anthony Messenger magazine, was founded in 1893. http://www.franciscanmedia.org
Friars Club, Cincinnati, Ohio
Friars Club is a 158-year-old non-profit social service organization dedicated to serving the special needs of Cincinnati’s at-risk children through organized sports, activity, nutrition and fitness. Friars seeks to empower children at risk by helping them develop strength, stability and self-sufficiency. The new facility for Friars Club opened in September 2014, next to Roger Bacon High School. http://www.friarsclubinc.org.
Jamaica Missions: Negril and Savanna-la-mar
Catholics are few in number but strong in spirit in the western part of this island nation, where friars have ministered since the year 2000.

 

Mary, Gate of Heaven Catholic Church in Negril bustles with day-to-day outreach programs. St. Anthony’s Kitchen serves hot meals Monday through Friday to guests, and breakfast to children on their way to school. The Get Kids to School Programme sponsors 72 children, providing uniforms, supplies and transportation. (Phone: 876-957-4900; Fax: 876-957-4625.

Website: http://mghcatholic.com/index.html
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/St-Anthonys-Kitchen-152226054817315/

St. Joseph Parish in Savanna-la-Mar, which sits quietly off the main drag of the largest town in the diocese, is blessed by the presence of take-charge lay leaders and dependable parish committees. St Joseph parish, Sav la Mar, Jamaica
[https://www.facebook.com/St-Joseph-parish-Sav-la-Mar-Jamaica-173831382639553/timeline/]

Roger Bacon High School, Cincinnati, Ohio
Founded in 1928 by the Franciscans of St. John the Baptist Province, Roger Bacon is a Catholic high school that strives to develop the hearts, minds, and bodies of its young men and women in a caring and challenging environment. http://www.rogerbacon.org/
National Shrine of St. Anthony, Cincinnati, Ohio
A spiritual refuge for pilgrims who come here for daily prayer, contemplation and the weekly novena to St. Anthony.
Opened in 1889, the Shrine remains a place of peace, hope and communion with God and nature. http://www.stanthony.org
St. Francis Retreat House, Easton, Pa.
Since 1961, the retreat house has been committed to spreading the Gospel through programs that offer a holistic approach to human and spiritual growth in a quiet, comfortable and uniquely Franciscan environment. St. Francis Retreat House Easton PA | A Place of Peace [https://stfrancisretreathouse.wordpress.com/]
St. Francis Seraph Ministries, Cincinnati, Ohio
An inner-city outreach program, St. Francis Seraph Ministries works to nourish and nurture body, mind and spirit in Over-the-Rhine through Bag Lunch Ministries, Cooking for the Family, Sarah Center, Soup Kitchen and Trihealth Outreach Ministry. St. Francis Seraph Ministries [http://www.sfsministries.org/]

Video

Missionary Life

Ever wonder what priests and religious do on mission in foreign countries? Follow Fr. Colin King, OFM, as he serves the people of Jamaica.

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Our Life In Pictures

children with dog and 3 friars
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Justice & Peace

Eight hundred years ago St. Francis of Assisi profoundly changed the world with his message of peace, his concern for the poor and his love for all creation. Today we work to bring about justice and peace, to end violence and war, poverty and oppression, and the destruction of our planet. We hope you will join us on our journey.

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Find a Parish

 

Indiana

Oldenburg

Holy Family Parish, 3027 Pearl St. (PO Box 98), Oldenburg, IN 47036; 812-934-3013. http://holyfamilychurcholdenburgin.com/ 
Deeply rooted in its German heritage and in Franciscan spirituality, with a long history of service by friars and the Sisters of St. Francis.

Louisiana
New Orleans

St. Mary of the Angels Parish, 3501 North Miro St., New Orleans, LA 70117-5839; 504-945-3186. http://www.smaneworleans.org/
Socially active parish that works to empower its African American community through grassroots community activism.

 

Michigan

Southfield

Transfiguration Parish, 25231 Code Road, Southfield, MI 48033-5807; 248-356-8788. http://www.transfigsfld.org/
Formed from the merger of four parishes in 2007, Transfiguration is a vibrant community with an outreach program that feeds 500 families monthly.

Ohio

Cincinnati

St. Anthony Shrine, 5000 Colerain Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45223-1213; 513-541-21146. https://www.stanthony.org/
A spiritual refuge for pilgrims who since 1889 have come here for daily prayer, contemplation and the weekly novena to St. Anthony.
Video of the Shrine by History in Your Own Backyard

St. Clement Parish, 4536 Vine Street, Cincinnati, OH 45217-1695; 513-641-2257. http://www.stclementcincinnati.org/
Close-knit community of parishioners from all walks of life, staffed by friars since its founding in 1850.
Video of St. Clement by History in Your Own Backyard

St. Francis Seraph Parish, 1615 Vine Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202-6400; 513-535-2719.
http://sfsparish.org/
Occupies “Franciscan Corner,” site where the first friars from Austria settled in 1844. Its diverse, tight-knit congregation focuses on serving the poor in Over-the-Rhine, one of the city’s neediest neighborhoods.
Video of St. Francis Seraph by History in Your Own Backyard

Jamaica

Catholics are few in number but strong in spirit in the western part of this island nation, where friars have ministered since 2000.

Negril, Westmoreland

Mary Gate of Heaven Parish, Norman Manley Boulevard, PO Box 2564, Negril, Westmoreland Jamaica WI. 876-957-4900.
https://www.facebook.com/St-Anthonys-Kitchen-152226054817315/

our work in action

Ministry & Mission

Celebrating religious ed grads in Jamaica

Celebrating religious ed grads in Jamaica

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Colin King reports that two of his parishioners in Jamaica recently graduated from the Continues Adult Religious Education Program (CAREP) at St. Michael’s College and Seminary in Kingston. Tahira Leachman, church secretary and member of St Mary, Revival, and Marie...

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