 
St. Francis was a man of peace, simplicity and humility. His
dream of how to live the gospel radically altered religious
life. Religious would no longer live exclusively in the monastery
cloister. The world became the Franciscan cloister! Francis'
dream did not die with him. It reached down through the centuries
to our present day, nurtured by people who caught the fire
of his dream and re-enkindled it in dreams of their own. Capuchin
Franciscans have strived to be that type of people since our
founding in 1528. As a community of brothers and priests,
we hope to be the guardians and renewers of the ideals of
Francis today.
 The
early Capuchin Franciscans blended a life of preaching, care
of the poor, contemplation and simple living. Their dream
took root, and soon there were Capuchin Franciscans throughout
Europe! Over three hundred years later, two Europeans had
the dream to establish the Capuchin Franciscans in America.
In 1856, Johan Frey and Gregor Haas rode onto a hill called
Mt. Calvary in central Wisconsin. It was the end of a perilous
journey that began in Switzerland, including a five month
sea voyage, a month's train trip from New York and a horse-back
ride from Milwaukee. When they finally arrived, all the rigors
and uncertainties of pioneer life faced them. It took twenty-six
years of determined building, and in 1882 they achieved their
goal: becoming the first Capuchin Franciscan province in America,
the Province of St. Joseph. The province reached another turning
point in 1952 when it divided. The province had extended from
New York to Montana. Rapid numerical growth made it increasingly
difficult to maintain the close spirit which characterizes
the Capuchin Franciscans. The new Province of St. Mary included
New England and New York State. The Province of St. Joseph
would include the upper Midwest. Both provinces grew to near
the size of their original single province! Then came the
sixties and seventies ... and Vatican II with the wonderful
renewal of that great council, the Capuchins entered the modern
world and addressed its compelling needs. Today there are
eight provinces in North America. The Province of St. Mary
covers all of New York State and the New England states. Our
Provincial headquarters is in White Plains, NY.
“St.
Francis, a true disciple of Christ and an outstanding
example of Christian life, taught his own brothers to
follow the footprints of the poor and humble Jesus Christ
joyfully that, through Him, they would be led in the
Holy Spirit to the Father ”
“After he heard the words of the sending forth
of the disciples, St. Francis founded the Fraternity
of the Order of Minors which would bear witness to the
Kingdom of God by a sharing of life and by preaching
penance and peace through example and word ”
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- St. Francis of Assisi founded his order of priests and
brothers in 1209
- Capuchin Franciscans are a reform movement founded in
1528
- Our name originates from our long pointed hood (capuche);
Italian for ‘hood’
- Well known for simplicity of life, warmth, deep prayer
and dedication to the corporal works of mercy
- There have been over 90 declared Capuchin Saints and
Blesseds throughout our history
- Over 9,000 Capuchins worldwide
- 7 Provinces (Regions) in the United States…The
Province of St. Mary serves New York and New England where
there are 180 Capuchins in 22 ministerial sites as well
as friars in mission territories
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