Established in May 2019 & sponsored by our friars serving in ministry in Shamokin, Coal Township and Trevorton, Pennsylvania, The Franciscan Center works to help create a sustainable and promising future for the coal region, by networking and collaborating with faith based groups, community organizations, business owners, government agencies, and institutions of higher learning.

One year ago this month that we planted the first plants on Little Portion Farm. At that point the farm consisted merely of two beds of tomatoes in an otherwise empty field. Now, we have 67 beds planted, two wildflower sections, and a woodchip path which outlines the shape of the farm and welcomes visitors to take a reflective walk.

Franciscan Action Newtwork (FAN) and the Association of Franciscan Colleges and Universities have planned a 3-part webinar series on Laudato Si’ for college age students and young adults. 
The first part will be next Tuesday, June 30, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. ET via Zoom. 

RISE UP TO PROTECT OUR FUTURE: A Guide to Living out Laudato Si’
Presenters:  Daniel P. Horan, OFM, and Meghan Clark, PhD
Moderator:  Stephen Schneck, PhD., Executive Director of Franciscan Action Network
Date/Time:  Tuesday, June 30 @ 7:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM CT / 4:00 PM PT
RSVP to attend here: https://bit.ly/3djuEhn

 If you have any questions, please contact Janine Walsh of FAN at 203.685.1856 or at:  jwalsh@franciscanaction.org

NOTE: Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, Fr. Michael Lasky, OFM Conv. serves as our Province Chairman of Justice Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC). He is also the President of the Board of FAN.

This new website represents a joint-endeavor of friars from across the CFF, seeks to update and unify our online branding, and reimagines how we proclaim the Gospel as Conventual Franciscans in the digital town square.

Fifty years ago we celebrated the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970. Perhaps not coincidentally, this period of increased awareness of the finitude of Earth’s resources was around the same time astronauts were leaving our atmosphere and giving us the opportunity to see our home from afar, such as in the famous “Earthrise” photograph. At the sight of the blue planet rising above the horizon, Jim Lovell, one of the astronauts on that Apollo 8 mission, said “The vast loneliness is awe-inspiring and it makes you realize just what you have back there on Earth.” While most people will never have the chance to see our common home from this perspective, I hope you are able to catch a glimpse of that wonder today by contemplating life in all its uniqueness. 

Happy Earth Day! A message from our farmer Matt Jones, on location at our Little Portion Farm. 

During these past few weeks I’ve become aware of an interesting juxtaposition. On one hand, our lives are anything but normal right now: humans across the globe must cope with school and business closures, empty store shelves, cancelled events and trips, and countless other disruptions to work and family life. Yet if we look around, there is a strange normalcy still present: bluebirds are making homes for their eggs, trees are flowering and showing their first leaves of the season, the days are gradually getting longer, and spring weeds are still emerging (unfortunately they seem to have missed the memo to stay home).

The Pandemic has not stopped the outreach efforts of many of our ministries, including the College of Our Lady of the Elms caRe vaN; the mobile health care van brainchild of Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, Br. Michael Duffy, OFM Conv. (DNP, ANP-BC), who serves as Associate Dean and Director of Undergrad Prog. of the School of Nursing. The caRe vaN has served the community surrounding Elms College since January 13, 2013.  Developed as the Capstone for Friar Duffy’s DNP, the caRe vaN provides free healthcare to the homeless and under-served in the Chicopee (MA) area, while allowing pre-licensure students clinical experience. Services include blood pressure checks, blood sugar checks, foot care, first aide and minor wound care. For now, services have had to be adjusted, and are provided on the parking lot outside of the van, so that all can safely practice social distancing. Screenings, vitamins (C and zinc), acetaminophen, as well as the simple comforts of coffee and a snack are still being provided for the most vulneralbe.

“The poor you will have with you always. The last Sunday of each month is particularly hard on the homeless. In addition we have been getting Vitamin C, Zinc and acetaminophen out to our clients. Thank you all for your support.”
For more information or to make a donation to this effort, please email Brother Duffy, at bro_duffy@hotmail.com.

For more on our many outreach projects of our ministries throughout our province, follow our Facebook Page.