The Capuchin Office of Development and Missionary Activities was begun in 1984 to enable us to seek financial support for various projects financially beyond the capabilities of our Capuchin ministry income and our friars' simple lifestyle.
 
Hundreds of friends and benefactors across North America, assisted by the office staff, help God spread His table, thus providing the financial support for our various needs. To explore ways that you can help us, click on a selected item in the menu. The menu will appear at the top, above the photo banner, of all pages in this Office of Development section of the Capuchins website.


St. Francis of Assisi himself taught us the ministry of begging, sometimes called "questing." He is known as the Poverello-"the little poor man" - of Assisi, and he begged not only for his own needs and those of his brothers, but also for the poor.

In our Rule of Life he told us not to be afraid to beg: "As pilgrims and strangers in this world, serving the Lord in poverty and humility, let the friars go seeking alms with confidence, and they should not be ashamed to beg because, for our sakes, our Lord made Himself poor in this world."

Francis insisted that all the friars work and, so far as possible, support themselves by their own work, but should that prove inadequate they should then turn to "the table of the Lord." We Capuchins could not exist today without the help and support of many friends and benefactors, so we confidently put ourselves in their hands.

At the same time, however, we are most aware of our duty in turn to give our benefactors the witness of poverty, fraternity and Franciscan joy and to pray for them constantly. Special intentions of friends and benefactors are remembered at daily Mass and prayer, not only by the Capuchin Friars, but also by our Capuchin Poor Clare Sisters.