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
The arrival of Tyrolese friar Wilhelm (William) Unterthiner in 1844, had a seismic impact on the Catholic Church in Cincinnati and on the course of Franciscan life in the United States.
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.
Br. Vince Delorenzo, Br. John Barker, Provincial Minister Mark Soehner, Provincial Vicar William Farris, Fr. Bob Bruno, and Fr. Page Polk
Our
Leadership
Reflections from our friars.
Friar Voices Blog
The road to understanding
Although I was a reluctant pilgrim at the beginning of this journey, I emerged as a vibrant pilgrim. I really was changed by noticing how our ancestor friars developed their new way through accomplishments and pitfalls. Our future as a New Province is bright.
Franciscan Joy: In praise of black worship
As it says in Psalm 150, verse 6: “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.” The joy that one finds in the Black Church may be just that, as everyone gives praise. And the joy can be found in the song the choir is singing that tells me everything will be all right.
Our man in Malta
In three weeks of visitation in Malta, Fr. Jeff Scheeler has experienced the beauty of this Mediterranean archipelago and the warm hospitality of its friars, Bishops, Poor Clares, Secular Franciscans, youth groups and parishioners.
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