Franciscans Archives

Catholic hospital in Louisiana copes with COVID surge

Aug 4, 2021

The scene at Louisiana’s largest hospital in recent weeks is déjà vu to spring 2020: a COVID-19 patient surge, in-person visitations to those patients restricted, elective surgeries paused, inadequate staffing numbers, and not enough beds available to those in need.

By John Lavenburg

Franciscans elect Italian as 121st successor to St. Francis of Assisi

Jul 13, 2021

Members of the general chapter of the Order of Friars Minor elected Rome-born Father Massimo Fusarelli as the new minister general of the worldwide Franciscan order.

By Cindy Wooden

Franciscans open general chapter focusing on diversity, evangelization

Jul 7, 2021

As a worldwide religious order, Franciscan friars need to find new and better ways to welcome the diversity of their members and allow it to challenge the ways they live the Gospel in the world.

By Cindy Wooden

Franciscan leaders urge ‘boldness’ by U.S. to end violence in Holy Land

May 21, 2021

The Franciscan order’s six U.S. provincials told President Joe Biden in a joint letter May 19 that “now is the time for boldness to end the immediate violence” in the Holy Land.

By Catholic News Service

Catholic charity says world ‘too silent’ on Cameroon’s Anglophone crisis

Mar 20, 2021

After five years, the international community has been “too silent” about Cameroon’s Anglophone crisis, according to a leading Catholic charity.

By Ngala Killian Chimtom

Entire staff of Franciscan hospital boats in Amazon infected with COVID-19

Mar 1, 2021

Two hospital boats sent to the remote communities of the Amazon region in Brazil to treat COVID-19 patients have suspended operations after their entire staff tested positive for the coronavirus on February 11.

By Eduardo Campos Lima

Holy Land Franciscans again offer virtual Way of the Cross during Lent

Feb 19, 2021

The Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land launched a virtual Way of the Cross project for pilgrims during Lent because the Holy Land is not accessible for a second year in a row due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

By Judith Sudilovsky

Franciscans mark 600 years as guardians of Christendom’s most sacred sites

Feb 13, 2021

The Franciscans trace their presence in the Holy Land to 1217 when St. Francis of Assisi founded the Province of the Holy Land, a custodian priory of the order he founded in 1209 — formally called the Order of Friars Minor. On Feb. 14, the order will celebrate the 600th anniversary of Pope Martin V instituting the Commissaries of the Holy Land Feb. 14, 1421.

By Julie Asher