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Community Outreach
The Franciscan spirit asks us to use the gifts God has given us to make our world a better place to live. The Conventual Franciscan friars try to live up to this idea.
In this section, we feature local news reflective of the Franciscan spirit of reaching out to those less fortunate than ourselves as well as ongoing projects that are run to improve the quality of life in communities throughout North America and beyond.
Pilgrimage to Martyrs Shrine
Martyrs Shrine, Midland, Ontario
This summer the community at the Conventual Franciscan St. Raphael Parish in Burlington, Ontario had the opportunity to participate in a pilgrimage to Martyrs Shrine in Midland, Ontario. Pilgrimages are integral to our faith. The physicality of walking, prayer and the arrival at a spiritually significant location are all important in the continuing development of our faith.
The pilgrimage members of St. Raphael participated in lasted 8 days – from August 7th to the 14th. Rick Johnson coordinated pilgrims from the parish, but on the pilgrimage itself hundreds of pilgrims from various parishes proceeded to Martyrs Shrine. They prayed to God for the forgiveness of abortion; the pilgrims’ prayers were also dedicated to the intentions of Pope Benedict XVI and their families.
A scene in Burlington, Ontario
When the pilgrims walked through villages, towns, and along country roads, drivers and passersby might have wondered what they were doing. This sort of curiosity is an excellent opportunity to start a conversation about faith with persons who perhaps had not thought about their spiritual lives.
Pilgrimages are communal in nature
(Source of all related images on webpage and homepage: wikipedia.org.)
Ongoing Projects
St. Clare Inn (Toronto, Ontario) - A transitional home for women who have battled mental health problems. The St. Clare Inn - founded by The Friends of St. Francis - provides a safe welcoming space
with clean private rooms, food, and counseling facilities to help residents start healthy independent lives.
Franciscan Collaborative Ministries (Syracuse, New York) - A multi-pronged community organization with the intention of revitalizing the North Side of Syracuse, New York. FCM offers many services to improve the lives of the poor. These include: The Poverello Health Services, Coffee and Donuts, Soup and Scripture, Legal Assistance, and others.
El Padrecito's Online Church (Arroyo Grande, California) - Founded by Friar Masseo Gonzalez, OFM Conv, the church ministers to thousands of troubled youths around the United States.
FrancisCorps (Syracuse, New York) - FrancisCorps allows young college graduates from age 21 to 25 to live together in community and volunteer to improve lives in impoverished areas of Syracuse and Costa Rica.
The Franciscan Center (Buffalo, New York) - The Franciscan Center welcomes troubled young men who need help reintegrating into family and community life. It provides a welcoming non-judgmental atmosphere along with necessities for emergency situations.
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