Startseite > INTERNATIONAL > English

Conventual Franciscan Friars

Province of St. Elizabeth

As early as the year 1219, the still-young "Order of Lesser Brothers" attempted to establish itself in Germany. This first mission, however, was a failure. Two years later, in 1221, the brothers of Saint Francis of Assisi succeeded in founding a few friaries in Germany. From this era dates the foundation in Würzburg, from which the Province of St. Elizabeth of the Conventual Franciscan Friars is still administered today. Beyond Würzburg, friaries of our fraternity can also be found in Schönau (Saale), Schwarzenberg, Maria Eck (district of Lake Chiemsee), Kaiserslautern and Cologne.

Following in the footsteps of St. Francis, we strive to lead a common life in our friaries according to the Gospel. In prayer and in Eucharistic celebration we thank God for the way of life in which he is leading us, and we continue to plead with God on behalf of the concerns of humanity in distress. We endeavor to have open eyes and ears for the fears and troubles of our time and offer help wherever we can and may: Our friars are serving in parishes and places of pilgrimage, in hospitals and nursing homes; they are available for confession, spiritual exercises and discussions; they work as directors of our educational institutions; they preach the holy Gospel through speaking and writing; they offer assistance to the homeless; they organize activities for young people as well as many other pastoral initiatives.

In all of these tasks and with the gift of our entire selves, we are striving to put into practice the words of our founder as expressed in our Rule: The rule and life of the friars minor is this: to observe the holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ by living in obedience, without anything of our own, and in chastity.

We hope that whoever enters into contact with us will experience something of God. It is our intention, and according to St. Francis, should be our task, to lead humanity toward the love of God in joy and cheerfulness.

Presently both the Church and the Order are exposed to difficulties in Germany which are leaving behind their effects, yet we are glad and grateful that God keeps calling young men to follow Christ in our Order. And thanks to the help of many people, we may look to the future with confidence and hope.

Our endeavors in Germany have been supported for many years by our brothers from Poland, Romania, and several other countries. As Conventual Franciscan Friars, they too want to keep alive and foster the spirit of our Order in various friaries in Germany.

We ask you wholeheartedly: Experience our life! Participate in liturgies and pray with us in our churches… Join us during holiday or in courses offered in our friaries… Contact our friars… Enjoy our magazines "Friede und Heil" and "Sendbote"… Click on our homepage… In all of these ways we invite you to get to know us and stay in touch. We want to be brothers - certainly to those of our own fraternity, but also to all people in the world!

We wish you a heartfelt "pace e bene" - peace and all good things!

Your Conventual Franciscan Friars

Weitere Links in der Rubrik INTERNATIONAL

Deutsch	English	Espanol
Francais	Hrvatski	Italiano
Polski