Who We Are
We serve the Catholic Church as brothers and priests, devoting our lives to the search for God in a communal life of poverty, prayer, and service to others. Our province is only a small part of a great movement of women and men, filled with a passion for the Gospel, keeping the spirit of St. Francis alive all over the world.
He was a saint for all times.
Why We Love Francis
He preached peace in an era when life without war was unthinkable. He embraced the poor while others treated them with scorn. And he allied himself with nature centuries before humanity understood its connection to every living thing.
Friar Ministry
Some friars, like Fr. Roger Lopez, OFM, teach in high schools, forming the next generation of Catholic Christians. This “day in the life” video follows him as he balances life as an educator and priest, living in a prayerful community of Franciscans.
Friar Flashback
At St. Francis Seminary in the 1960s, young friars in formation pulled their own weight, making shoes and habits, cooking, cleaning, building and repairing, grooming the grounds while they also went to school.
Our Heritage
In 1844, a call to aid immigrants took friars 4,700 miles from their home in the Tyrolean Alps to a frontier city on the Ohio River. There they laid the foundations for the wide-ranging ministries of St. John the Baptist Province.
Back row: Fr. Bob Bruno, Fr. Roger Lopez, Br. John Barker and Fr. Page Polk
Front row: Provincial Minister Mark Soehner and Provincial Vicar William Farris
Our
Leadership
Reflections from our friars.
Friar Voices Blog
We Will See Him
This Easter we too will gather, with our hopelessness and despair over our world’s tragedies. But if we will allow it, also with all our potential, we will become witnesses to the Resurrection.
A helpful service for older adults
Fr. Roger Lopez shares a useful service to help with the transportation needs of older adults.
What are you reading?
In February, Lindsey Archdeacon, who coordinates social media for SJB Province, had the idea of asking the friars about what books they’re currently reading and why they would recommend them, then sharing this on Facebook. “Watcha Reading Wednesday” has since become a semi-regular feature.
CONSIDER A FUTURE
WITH THE FRIARS
DONATE
Help us continue to serve the poor, care for the retired friars and our men in formation.
LET US PRAY
FOR YOU