Ministries

Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish, Philadelphia, PA

Located in west Philadelphia, this parish is a beacon of good will and hope for the neighborhood. Although relatively small in numbers, OLBS is a remarkably visiable community of faith, reaching out to young and old alike. The parish school is a great ministry for the children of the neighborhood, and the parish is a superb host for the many Capuchin postulants who live and worship with the members of the church. The church worships well and reaches out to the community with compassion and a sense of justice. About 400 families belong to the parish and all are proud of their African American Catholic heritage. Capuchin friars have been present at OLBS three years.

Holy Spirit Parish, Cleveland, OH

This newly established parish is the newest ministry in the repertoire of Capuchin endeavors. Before friars were on the scene, though, the people of three parishes worked with one another to establish one church for the extensive neighborhood that straddles Cleveland and Garfield Heights. Unlike other parishes that face difficult decisions, the people of St. Timothy, St. Catherine and St. Henry negotiated their way to becoming Holy Spirit Church. Bishop Richard Lennon happily approved the plan and asked the Capuchins to pastorally lead the new parish and build a firm foundation for a bright future of the Catholic community and its involvement in the struggling neighborhood.

St. Joseph Parish, Cabot, PA

Although a suburb of Pittsburgh, Cabot was a mission of one of the first friaries of the Province. Friars traveled from Herman to attend to the spiritual needs of the mission. Founded in 1905, St. Joseph Parish is a thriving community that emphasizes worship and service to the community. Nearly 1,000 families make up the parish and many are committed pro-life advocates, making an annual trip to Washington, DC, for the Pro-Life March on Washington. Many parishioners have long-time roots in the area; there are also many "new" parishioners, folks who have moved here to be close to work. St. Joseph Parish seems to have the best of the rural setting and nearness to a major metropolitan area.

St. Francis Parish, Harrisburg, PA

Quite new to the Capuchin roster of ministries, St. Francis of Assisi Church is located on Market Street, a very busy residential area of Pennsylvania's capitol. In 2005 Bishop Kevin Rhoades asked that the Capuchins minister to the people of this parish named after their founder. Harrisburg has attracted large numbers of immigrants, primarily from Mexico. Obviously there are a good number of people who have been long-time members of the parish, but the vast majority are relatively new and some very new to the parish and the USA. The two Spanish Masses are crowded to standing room only. The humble church and friary are a perfect fit for the friars who live and work at St. Francis.

St. Mary Parish, Butler (Herman), PA

It had been the site of the Capuchin seminary for more than a century, but the parish of St. Mary's remains, served by Capuchin friars. After the first Bavarian friars arrived in the US, they were intent on establishing a "seraphic school" and decided to locate it in the tiny village of Herman, PA, which retains its rural atmosphere even to this day. The parish continues to function well, despite a downturn in population. The parishioners are fiercely proud of their parish and support it in many ways, including a team of men who see to all the maintenance needs and a large group of people who pitch in for the Lenten fish fry's that have become legend in Butler County. It is a parish with a long history and a bright future.

Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Cleveland, OH

Saint Agnes - Our Lady of Fatima Parish is new for the Capuchin Friars. Previously pastored by the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity, the parish is a dynamic African-American community, which focuses effective attention on youth and young adults of the Hough neighborhood of east Cleveland. On any Sunday nearly half the congregation for Mass is under the age of thirty, and many of them function in the various ministries of the Church. Essential to the outreach of the parish is the nearby Fatima Family Center that houses various programs for folks of all ages. Fatima proudly reflects the heritage and culture of the Catholic African-American community and shares its lively faith with its neighbors.

Capuchin College, Washington DC

One of the few remaining houses of study for religious orders in the Brookland neighborhood in Washington, DC. Established in the early 1900's, Capuchin College is the residence of friars who are studying at area universities, including the Catholic University of America and the Washington Theological Union. All friars live and study at Capuchin College immediately after novitiate for at least three years, and a staff of friars are assigned to guide the young men in the first years of Capuchin life. Here the students continue to absorb the Capuchin spirit in preparation for a lifetime of ministry and life as a friar. Some of them will be ordained and others will embark on careers consistent with the Capuchin charism.

Mt. St. Mary’s Seminary, Emmitsburg, MD

This seminary, primarily for diocesan seminarians, was founded in 1801 by a French immigrant missionary, Father Dubois. Closely assocated with the earliest days of the seminary and college was Mother Elizabeth Annn Seton and the founding of the Daughters of Charity. The seminary is located in the beautiful Blue Ridge country of Frederick County, MD, and attracts seminarians from primarily the Mid-Atlantic region, but there are also students from the Midwest and South. A Capuchin friar, Father J. Daniel MIndling, has taught moral theology here since 1988 and Academic Dean since 1993. Father Dan's ministry at "the Mount" has earned him high regard for his expertise in bio-ethics.

St. Joseph Hermitage, Wheeling, WV

There is a rich tradition in Capuchin-Franciscan history, inspired by St. Francis himself, of friars living intensely in contemplative prayer. St. Joseph of Leonissa Hermitage is dedicated entirely to living that contemplative life. This friary is structured to embrace this lifestyle in its daily routine. The hours of prayer and regimen of fasting also includes fraternal and pastoral responsibilities that make the hermitage self-reliant. One element of the hermitage is following the instruction of St. Francis for friars to take turns praying and doing domestic chores. Originally housed in western Pennsylvania, the hermit friars were invited by the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston to take up residence near the Paul VI Pastoral Center.

Paul VI Pastoral Center, Wheeling, WV

Located atop a mountain overlooking the Ohio River, this retreat center of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston is a perfect place to reconnect with God in private and communal prayer and reflection. The Paul VI Pastoral Center offers a wide range of spiritual, theological and liturgical conferences, seminars and retreats. The Center welcomes both groups and individuals. Retreatants of all ages have made the mountain-top Center a place where they can delve more deeply into the life that God has invited all of us. Capuchin friars have been present for nearly fifteen years as directors and associates of the Center's ministry. The nearby St. Joseph of Leonissa Capuchin Hermitage is adjacent to the Center.

VA Hospital - Heinz Division, Pittsburgh, PA

A Capuchin friar is the chaplain of the H. J. Heinz III Division of the Pittsburgh Veterans Administration Healthcare System. Father Bob Craig is part of a sophisticated system of interdisciplinary teams who serve those who have served their nation. Located in the Aspinwall community of Pittsburgh, this VA hospital will soon expand its services to veterans who suffer various addictions. Father Bob joins a very long line of Capuchin friars who serve the sick and infirmed. That Capuchin tradition reaches way back to the earliest days of the Order when friars worked heroically among victims of the plague, earning the enduring affection of the people who witnessed their selfless spirit and deep compassion for the sick.

St. Callistus Parish, Philadelphia, PA

St. Callistus was founded in the Overbrook area of Philadelphia on October 14, 1921, the feast of St. Callistus and thus the reason for the choice of the name. The School was the first permanent building and was open and staffed by the Sisters of St. Joseph from 1923 - 1996. The church building was built in 1928 with a congregation of about 300 families who were predominately Irish and Italian. In 2006 the Capuchins took over the staffing of the parish with a congregation of about 300 families who are about 80% Italian and Irish and 20% African and African American.

St. John Parish, Philadelphia, PA

The Church of St. John the Evangelist is the Center-City church of Philadelphia. It's daily sacramental schedule is daunting, with Masses being celebrated in the upper and lower churches simultaneously. There is also a large number of people who come for confession, which is available throughout most of the workday. St. John's, in addition to having good number of parishioners, also serves the thousands of office workers in downtown Philadelphia. The very large and nearby Jefferson Hospital is in the pastoral care of friars as well. The Capuchins accepted Cardinal Bevilacqua's invitation to care for St. John's in 1991. It was the Capuchins first presence in the archdiocese.

CFP – Borromeo Seminary, Wickliffe, OH

Thirty years ago the Capuchins closed St. Fidelis College in Herman, PA, and became part of Cleveland diocese's Borromeo Seminary. The friars and their college-aged seminarians were welcomed warmly and immediately became a vital part of the diocesan seminary. For many years all the classes for both Capuchin and diocesan students were conducted at the seminary. Now most classes are taken at nearby John Carroll University, a Jesuit-run institution of higher learning. The Capuchin Formation Program (CFP) focuses on the religious and spiritual development of the Capuchin students, preparing them for religious life and ministry. Three friars are assigned to work in all aspects of Borromeo Seminary.

St. Vincent Seminary, Latrobe, PA

The Benedictine monks of St. Vincent Archabbey played a very important role in the migration of Capuchin friars to Pennsylvania. In 1873 Archabbot Boniface Wimmer hosted the newly arrived Bavarian friars and arranged for them to begin a foundation in Pittsburgh. Capuchin friars Fr. Hyacinth Epp, Br. Eleutherius Guggenbichler and Fr. Matthew Hau stayed at the archabbey in the first days and weeks after their arrival in the US. Today, a Capuchin friar, Fr. Lester Knoll, serves as spiritual director at St. Vincent Seminary. It is a wonderful turn of history that a friar of the Province of St. Augustine is now able to serve the Benedictine monks, many years after they generously and wisely guided the Province's founders, more than 130 years later.

Holy Redeemer Church, Philadelphia, PA

Located in Philadelphia's Chinatown, Holy Redeemer is a mission of St. John the Evangelist Church (below), serving Chinese Catholics of the city. Founded in 1941, Holy Redeemer has three Masses each Sunday, one each in Cantonese, Mandarin and English. The school enrolls 290 students, all of whom are Chinese. Each1941. A health clinic sponsored by Holy Redeemer sees about 50 people each week. Many parishioners have strong ties to China, some being recent immigrants and others who are second and third generation US citizens. When the Capuchins arrived at St. John's in 1991, they were also entrusted with the care of Holy Redeemer, becoming a member of the Capuchin family of ministries.

Collegio San Lorenzo, Roma, Italy

The Collegio San Lorenzo da Brindisi is the international Capuchin center for higher studies. Friars from around the world are sent to the Collegio to pursue courses of study that will enable them to return to their countries, in most cases, to prepare the future generations of friars. Located on the outskirts of Rome, the Collegio is the residence for men who attend classes at the Roman Pontifical Universities, such as the Gregorianum, the Antonianum, etc. A friar from the St. Augustine Province (USA) is the vice-rector of the Collegio, Father John Petrikovic. Another, Father William Henn, is a professor at the esteemed Gregorianum, near the Church of St. John Lateran. Father Paul Dressler is pursuing a degree at the Antonianum.

Archdiocese of Boston, Massachusetts

Established initially as the Diocese of Boston in 1808, within the metropolitan province of Baltimore, the diocese was elevated to an Archdiocese in 1875. Nearly 200 years after the diocese was formed, Capuchin friar Bishop Sean O'Malley was named archbishop of Boston in 2003 by Pope John Paul II. He had been bishop of the Virgin Islands, Fall River, MA, and Palm Beach, FL (successively). Archbishop Sean was created a Cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in 2006. Sean Cardinal O'Malley is the shepherd of nearly two million Catholics, including more than 800 diocesan priests, more than 1,400 religious men, 2,200 religious women, and 234 permanent deacons.

Read Cardinal Seán’s Blog »

Sacred Heart Parish, Washington DC

Each Sunday Masses are celebrated in four languages: English, Spanish, Haitian Creole and Vietnamese. The Shrine of the Sacred Heart has been in the pastoral hands of Capuchin friars since 1984, when Washington, DC Cardinal Hickey invited the friars to serve a massive immigrant community. Sacred Heart is the church of the Adams-Morgan area of the nation's capitol and is a center for faith and faith-in-action. Numerous ethnic groups have moved through the neighborhood, a popular first stop of newly arrived immigrants. Today Spanish is the dominate language at Sacred Heart, requiring five Masses each Sunday to accommodate all the worshippers who are native to many Latin countries.

US Conference of Bishops, Washington DC

The headquarters of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is located near the Catholic University of America in Northeast Washington, DC. In 2004 the bishops asked Capuchin friar Father Thomas Weinandy to be the theologian for the Conference. At the time he was the Warden (Director) of Greyfriars College at Oxford University in Great Britain. Besides having a distinguished career in teaching theology, Father Tom is also a prolific and scholarly author of many books and articles. Now Father Tom assists bishops in their ministry of teaching the Catholic faith. Often he is called upon to comment about papal documents, such as encyclicals, or other developments of interest to journalists and the public at-large.

McGuire Memorial, New Brighton, PA

Since its founding in 1962 by the Diocese of Pittsburgh, McGuire Memorial  has been in the capable and compassionate hands of he Felician Sisters. McGuire is dedicated to the full range of care and services to physically and mental disabled people.  Among the many comprehensive services is the Pastoral Care Program, headed by Capuchin friar Father Bill Gillum. With his guidance residents take part in community prayer which use ritual and multi-sensory symbols in order to awaken and evoke a sense of the sacred—an intuitive knowledge of God. The Pastoral Care program strives to meet the spiritual needs of all the individuals who live either at the main site or in its twelve community homes in the surrounding areas. Residents attend services at the main site during the week as well as traveling to local churches on Sundays - Catholic, Lutheran, Episcopal, and Methodist denominations.

St. Clare Parish, Clairton, PA

About twenty miles south of Pittsburgh, the city Clairton is on the south bank of the Monongahela River. St. Clare Parish is a new parish, consisting in part of the former St. Paulinus and St. Joseph parishes. The steel mills at the river's edge harken back to the times when all of Pittsburgh was known as the Steel City. With the shrinking steel industry, the community is struggling through an economic and social tranisition, but the parishioners of St. Clare are a steady anchor in the midst of changing times. Under Capuchin guidance for nearly twenty years, the Catholic community has undergone painful transformations but is resolute in its faith and determination to reach out to the community, helping many people to hope again.

St. John Hospice, Philadelphia, PA

Adjacent to the Philadelphia Convention Center, St. John's Hospice focuses on ministry to homeless men. The wide range of services, from hot meals to showers and a place to pick up one's mail, St. John's is a very busy center from the moment it opens in the morning until the last man leaves late in the afternoon. Some of the men are mentally disabled, some are in need of recovery from alcohol and drug addictions, and others are just trying to become re-established and put homelessness behind them. Capuchin friar Brother Kip Ledger is on the staff and helps the men with various requests. Besides the wide array of needs, Brother Kip most importantly listens, encourages, consoles and counsels people in distress.

St. Anthony Parish, Charleston, WV

Founded in the early 1900's, Saint Anthony Church was first Saint Ladislaus, serving Polish immigrants who labored in the mills and factories of this city on the Kanawha River. Soon, however, Italian immigrants flooded into the city and the newly established parish was named after the famous Franciscan saint. The first friar to work among the immigrants in Charleston was Father Cyprian Gehrling, himself an immigrant from Bavaria. Today, with the pervasive decline in jobs, Charleston is losing population, and this historically working class parish is situated in an economically distressed neighborhood. With its school and outreach to the neighborhood, the church community is a life line of hope and charity to people who are struggling to find a way to survive.

Our Lady of Angels Parish, Pittsburgh, PA

This parish has its roots in four previous parishes: St. John, St. Mary, Holy Family, and St. Augustine (the parish after which this province of Capuchin friars is named). The parish was formed in 1993 and initially experienced a common trauma to that of other city parishes that have been reconfigured to account for the decline of urban neighborhoods. Today it is thriving in unity, devoted to becoming a beacon to the surrounding Lawrenceville neighborhood. Capuchin friars from Bavaria made their very first foundation at St. Augustine in 1873 and continue to minister in the parish, along with the Mercy Sisters. The parish has a school, St. John Neumann, and has a wide range of ministries to foster the faith and reach out to those in need.

St. Paul Shrine, Cleveland, OH

It's the mid-town church of Cleveland. Located on Euclid Avenue, the Shrine of the Conversion of St. Paul is home to the fullness of the Franciscan Family; all three 'Orders' are present here: Capuchin-Franciscans who are part of the First Order; Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration, members of the Second Order; and Secular Franciscans, part of the Third Order. The Shrine, originally an Episcopalian church, was purchased by the Poor Clares and became a Shrine of perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. A larger community of lay people from the metro area are a vital part of the Shrine and contribute to its prayerfulness, works of charity and justice, and engaging fellowship.

St. Cecilia Parish, Rochester, PA

More than 150 years old, Saint Cecilia Parish only recently built a new church in this Ohio River valley section of Beaver County, Pennsylvania. Until the late 1970's the area was bustling with industry. Many large steel mills and a vast railroad yard employed tens of thousands of workers, many of them children of immigrants from all parts of Europe. As in many parts of the "Rust Belt," Rochester and the surrounding communities have felt the devastation of economic displacement. Despite the difficulties, the 2,000 members of St. Cecilia parish continue to have their faith nurtured and, in turn, are invited to respond to the needs of their neighbors by the lively faith of their parish.

St. John Parish, Belle, WV

Formerly a mission of Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral (a former Capuchin parish in Chaarleston), St. John's is a small parish by most accounts, but it is large in compassion for the many economically distressed people of the local community. The near-collapse of steel and chemical factories has left Belle without a propserous base on which to sustain its residents. St. John's parish, however, never seems to tire of its goal to take the word s of Jesus seriously: "When I was hungry, you fed me ...." While strong in its mission to the neighborhood, the parish is also a closely-knit community of resilient and welcoming members.