OFH Ministries
- THANK YOU for Your Support!
Our PRIMARY Ministry is CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER, but St. Francis was always torn between the Silence of Contemplation and Active Ministry. As Franciscans, we must put our Faith into Action, so we have a variety of ministries we're involved in throughout the world, always remembering when Jesus said, "When you did these things to the Least of my Brothers, you did them to ME."
We are NOT Franciscans for our own sake, but for OTHER'S!
Our PRIMARY Ministry is CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER, but St. Francis was always torn between the Silence of Contemplation and Active Ministry. As Franciscans, we must put our Faith into Action, so we have a variety of ministries we're involved in throughout the world, always remembering when Jesus said, "When you did these things to the Least of my Brothers, you did them to ME."
We are NOT Franciscans for our own sake, but for OTHER'S!
IMMEDIATE NEED: Clean Water, Food Stability and Solar Projects in Africa
During Br. Paul's visit to Kenya in June 2022, he had the privilege of meeting with Sister Ann Rebeka, one of our OFH Sisters who works with over 200 families of the Maasai tribe in a remote area of the bush territory of Kenya. She and the people whom she Serves have NO ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER. She says they, "literally drink BROWN WATER" and is asking for our help.
Sister Ann Rebeka recently wrote me and sent photos of their water situation... "Br. Paul, greetings, hope you are fine. The photos are of our brown water. The dam for our school has dried up completely. This evening I went to fetch water from our neighborhood... The closest water is miles and miles away from the school. Animals use the same water we use."
The situation is DIRE for the families that Sister works with, so your financial support is CRITICAL to help bring needed water filtration and water cisterns to the families in her area, and food for her students at her boarding school.
The Order of Franciscan Hermits, a 501(c)(3), has an immediate goal to raise funds to help provide 200 families with water filters so they don't have to drink "brown water" which will eliminate/reduce water borne illnesses. We would then work to install water cisterns to collect water from the roofs at the school and other structures where feasible. Once the water situation is remedied, we would then like to provide solar lighting to the families of the students because Sister says that, "the priority of the Maasai are raising their cattle and see little to no value in education." Her students must work with the cattle first which leaves little time to study during the daylight. Having solar lights in their homes will allow the children to study at night.
We THANK YOU for your help in Advance! Please CLICK HERE to make a donation today.
The Order of Franciscan Hermits, a 501(c)(3), has an immediate goal to raise funds to help provide 200 families with water filters so they don't have to drink "brown water" which will eliminate/reduce water borne illnesses. We would then work to install water cisterns to collect water from the roofs at the school and other structures where feasible. Once the water situation is remedied, we would then like to provide solar lighting to the families of the students because Sister says that, "the priority of the Maasai are raising their cattle and see little to no value in education." Her students must work with the cattle first which leaves little time to study during the daylight. Having solar lights in their homes will allow the children to study at night.
We THANK YOU for your help in Advance! Please CLICK HERE to make a donation today.
OFH Missions
- OFH Kenya & East Africa Region - in June 2022, Archbishop Philip Anyolo of the Archdiocese of Nairobi; Bishop George Muthaka, OFM Cap. of the Diocese of Garissa; Bishop Alfred Rotich of the Diocese of Kericho and Bishop Dominic Kimengich of the Diocese of Eldoret - all in Kenya, each met with Br. Paul the General Minister of the OFH and have welcomed us to promote the Order of Franciscan Hermits within their dioceses. The Bishops have pledged to continue to pray for our Community and discussions have been made regarding building a Hermitage Fraternity (monastery) which will serve as a Center for Franciscan Formation & Communication, as well as a Retreat Center for the people of the area. Br. Paul also met with Fr. Arnold Shimira, OFM Cap. - the Custos of the Capuchin General Custody of Kenya, who has ensured us that he and our Capuchin Brothers (from whom we have our Spiritual roots) will walk with us each step of the way throughout our journey in Kenya.
Please consider helping us financially to ensure this important Franciscan presence is established in the remote area we're being asked to Serve:
--- The Fr. Enda Heffernan, OFM Cap. Memorial Fund for African Missions - OFH Guam & Oceana Region - We have been asked by our Associates and Members on Guam who are members of the Santa Cruz (Holy Cross) Ordinariate Community to be recognized as a Missionary Region of the Order of Franciscan Hermits. We hope to work closely with them to help promote their efforts to revitalize the Church. This is our newest Region, so we are still in initial dialogue with them to help assess their needs.
We would like to establish a Hermitage Fraternity (monastery) on Guam, and are requesting the donation of land of 5+ acres that would be suitable for a contemplative environment. Please email BrPaul@FranciscanHermits.org to discuss possible donations, or please consider making a financial donation to help support our efforts. - OFH Philippines Region - This is perhaps our largest concentration of Associates and Members within our OFH Community, The vibrant Faith we witness there brings hope to the rest of the Church which is suffering.
We would like to establish a Hermitage Fraternity (monastery) in the Philippines and are requesting the donation of land of 5+ acres that would be suitable for a contemplative environment. Please email BrPaul@FranciscanHermits.org to discuss possible donations, or please consider making a financial donation to help support our efforts. - OFH United States Region - We consider the United States to b a CRITICAL Missionary Territory because the Church and Country is Suffering in many ways. The extreme decline in Faith and Division among its citizens and within families... the lack of attendance at Church and severe decline in vocations to the Religious Life... priests, sisters and brothers... makes our Mission critical for us to promote and carry out to help bring Faith and Spirituality back into homes and UNITY amongst the people of the "United" States. We do NOT participate in politics... We choose to Focus on what UNITES us as Franciscans, Christians and Humans, rather than what Divides us.
Br. Paul, the Guardian and Founder of the OFH, lives in the USA and regularly travels to promote the Order's Mission and teaches the practice of Contemplative Prayer in parishes, retreats and other organizations where invited.
We would like to establish a Hermitage Fraternity (monastery) in the USA and are requesting the donation of land of 5+ acres that would be suitable for a contemplative environment. Please email BrPaul@FranciscanHermits.org to discuss possible donations, or please consider making a financial donation to help support our efforts.
Other Ministries & Programs
- Educational Scholarships (Room & Board) for Children working with our Members in Africa
- Outreach to the Homeless - Always a critical ministry as Franciscans, we serve in soup kitchens and street ministries throughout the world, offering friendship and Spiritual support, as well as providing for the immediate needs for clothing and food. Money is never given directly to the individuals.
- Outreach to Inmates - Jesus requires us to "Visit the Sick and Imprisoned" and most people don't realize that St. Paul himself wrote letters to the Colossians, Philemon, the Ephesians, and the Philippians while imprisoned in Rome!
Br. Paul began ministering to the incarcerated and those in 1990 which has been one of his most rewarding ministries. While most Christian ministries "Preach" to the inmates (and we certainly do this by conducting prayer services, Spiritual discussion groups, and bible studies), Jesus' instruction actually says, "VISIT" the sick and imprisoned. It is a ministry of PRESENCE. BE-ing there for inmates who have lost everything... their freedom and many times their family, friends and faith. We remind ourselves when Jesus said, "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone"... so we approach this ministry with Compassion and Unconditional LOVE. Perhaps you've heard it said, "It's easier to catch flies with honey rather than vinegar"... building trust is far more effective than being a "Lightning Bolt" preacher! Jesus taught LOVE and FORGIVENESS...
"Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times." (Mt. 18:20-22)
-- Prayers From the Inmates (In-person; Video; Correspondence & Inmate Gathered Prayers) - This is considered one of our most important ministries because it teaches the inmates to think outside themselves to pray for their families, friends and victims. We have inmates who daily collect Prayer Requests from other inmates so they can personally pray for them, who in turn send them to us (the OFH) to be included in our daily prayers.
-- Prayer Cards for Inmates - Prayer Cards are a popular request by inmates and always seem to be in short supply. Your Support is appreciated.
-- Rosaries for Inmates - Depending on the correctional facility and/or risk level of the inmate, we donate actual rosaries or rosary pamphlets to inmates requesting them. Your Support is appreciated.
-- Spiritual Direction (In-person; Video; Correspondence) - Due to COVID restrictions, there are many correctional facilities who have not restored in-person ministry visitations to inmates, but many correctional facilities have initiated video visits which where not previously available which makes offering Spiritual Direction easier and more private in most cases. We are willing to meet with inmates of any Faith, even those with none.
-- Spiritual Correspondence (Letters; Emails) - There are many inmates with long-term and/or life sentences who have lost all contact with their family and friends. We receive requests from inmates and chaplains who are aware of inmates who would like Spiritual Pen Pals. There are many inmates who are able to send and receive email (sometimes called O-Mail) at a cost of .25 cents per email (or more depending on the facility). Other correctional facilities allow inmates to receive free emails, but not "Send" them. We NEVER send money to inmates for ANY reason... a portion of donations allocated to our inmate ministries cover our costs to send traditional correspondence and/or emails to the inmates. Your Support is appreciated.
-- Visitations (In-person; Video) - Due to COVID restrictions, there are many correctional facilities who have not restored in-person ministry visitations to inmates, but many correctional facilities have initiated video visits which where not previously available and makes visitation easier and more private in most cases. We are willing to meet with inmates of any Faith, even those with none.
- Outreach to the Sick and Dying - Jesus requires us to "Visit the Sick"... We Serve as Chaplains and Eucharistic Ministers in hospitals, convalescent and group homes... assisted living centers for the memory impaired... hospice and also make home visitations. We bring Communion, rosaries and prayer cards to sick individuals, their caregivers and families when appropriate, in the parishes where we serve. Your Support is appreciated.
- Outreach to Addiction Recovery Programs - Provide friendship, Spiritual Direction and retreats to those in Addiction Recovery programs. Rosaries and prayer cards are given to those who are interested. Your Support is appreciated.
- FranciscanDigest.com - World Outreach - In an effort to promote Franciscanism, our website that brings you the latest News, Videos, Podcasts and other articles from Franciscan Communities throughout the world.
- RosariesForPeace.com - In Solidarity with Pope Francis who Consecrated Russia and the Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on March 25, 2022, the Order of Franciscan Hermits has established its "Perpetual Rosary Association" to help pray for the conversion of Russia as the Blessed Mother... Our Mother of Peace... has asked us to do in Fatima.
The Order of Franciscan Hermits has Associates and Members in over 90 countries worldwide... as we pray the rosary, we are like a Beacon of Christ's Light to the world, bringing PEACE to ALL the Nations. By joining our Perpetual Rosary Association, we can ensure that somewhere throughout the world, someone is praying the Rosary as Our Mother of Peace has asked us to do.
To Enroll in the Order of Franciscan Hermits - Perpetual Rosary Association, please visit our website at https://www.RosariesForPeace.com. It is free to join and your intentions will be included in all of our daily prayers.
ROSARIES ARE NEEDED - In all of our Ministries, we try to give Free Rosaries when we have them available, Please consider making a donation so we may purchase Rosaries when needed. If you make rosaries and would like to donate them, please send to:
Order of Franciscan Hermits
310 S. Twin Oaks Valley Rd
#107-261
San Marcos, CA 92078
THANK YOU for Your Support!
