On Oct. 17, 2023, nearly 700 Franciscan friars came together to form the new Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe, a historic moment for Franciscan life in the United States.
Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the friars took charge of their future, reconsidering as brothers how to be better agents of renewal, evangelizers and stewards of God’s generous gifts. As they celebrate the one-year anniversary of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe, they do so with gratitude for their partners-in-ministry and generous benefactors who have ministered alongside them and prayed with them during their first year.
“Birthdays are milestones to celebrate growth and future potential, and to gratefully recognize that—however you measure it—all good things come from the Lord,” said Provincial Minister Br. Lawrence Hayes, OFM. “In the words of Dag Hammarskjold, ‘For all that has been, thank you. For all that is to come, yes!’”
A coast-to-coast brotherhood
The boundaries of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe stretch from the wilderness of Alaska’s interior, to sunny Puerto Rico. From coast to coast, Franciscan friars across the United States, Puerto Rico, Jamaica and Cuba are serving in a rich variety of ministries:
— From big cities to rural towns, friars are finding new and innovative ways to care for the poor, whether by feeding the hungry, offsetting the cost of utilities, or just being present to those who need a listening ear.
— At Franciscan parishes, the friars are providing welcome and hospitality to the spirituality hungry and building community.
— At colleges, universities and grade schools, instructors weave Franciscan values into the curriculum, encouraging students to become people of dialogue and compassion who will put their faith and values into action.
— On Native American reservations, friars try to bring healing and advocate for the needs of the people.
— At retreat and spiritual centers, friars invite visitors to deepen their relationship with God and view the world in a new way.
No matter the ministry, the friars desire to be one with the people they serve, to treat them with compassion, dignity and respect, to celebrate with them in times of joy, and be present in times of sorrow and hardship.
(Photo courtesy of Peter Jordan / www.PeterJordanPhoto.com)
Advocating for justice and peace
Through their unified presence, the friars have amplified their ongoing efforts to pursue justice and peace for the poor and the marginalized, and to protect and preserve the environment:
— Following the example of St. Francis of Assisi and Pope Francis, who recognize the integral relationship between care for creation and care for the poor, the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe proudly sponsored “Earth’s Cry, Humanity’s Call: A Symposium on Integral Ecology.” The conference focused on the local and global consequences of climate change and called for responses to the ever-evolving social and ecological crises we face today.
— Throughout the province, from the Arizona and Texas borders with Mexico, to New York City, friars and Franciscan-hearted people are assisting people displayed by poverty, violence and climate change during the global migration crisis, a humanitarian crisis of vast proportions.
— The Provincial Council has actively called on people of goodwill to call for a ceasefire and implement practical solutions to bring peace to the Holy Land.
(Photo courtesy of Br. Octavio Duran)
Celebrating our future
The future is bright! Earlier this year, friars, family and friends celebrated as four men professed solemn, or final, vows, in a public display of deepening their commitment to serving God and his people. Three men chose to be ordained as priests. And the friars welcomed four men as postulants, the first class of men to say “yes” to God as part of this new province.
On fire with their faith, our men in formation recently launched a video series called “Hold Back Nothing: Sharing Our Franciscan Life” to share how their love for the Eucharist has inspired their ministry, with six episodes published so far and more to come.
Since October, the friars have welcomed men exploring God’s call to Franciscan life to attend discernment weekend retreats across the country, from California to Indiana to Texas to New Mexico and Florida and beyond. As one discerner reflected, the weekend he attended “felt like family the moment I walked in the door. The friars were welcoming and generous ... Their stories were different, but every friar shared the same sentiment – they have lived full lives with no regrets, and they have experienced things that otherwise wouldn’t have been possible.”
What comes next?
What is next for the Franciscan Friars of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe? To better understand how they can serve the people of God in the 21st century, the friars launched a Franciscan Provincial Synod earlier this year, beginning a process of discernment and dialogue with Poor Clares, Franciscan sisters, Secular Franciscans and partners-in-ministry.
These conversations are helping the friars consider how their fraternity, mission and charism can be lived out to its fullest potential in service to God and care for the poor, the alienated, the marginalized and the forgotten. The Franciscan Provincial Synod will continue into 2025.
As the friars look toward the future of Franciscan life, one thing is certain: the upcoming years will be an adventure. May St. Francis and Our Lady of Guadalupe watch over us as we continue our ministry to the people of God.