TRADITIONAL ORDER OF FRANCISCAN FRIARS

 

UNA VOCE GEORGIA IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE A NEW GROUP OF TRADITIONAL FRANCISCAN FRIARS. UNA VOCE WILL BE INVITING THEM TO COME TO OUR STATE NEXT YEAR ON A VOCATIONS TRIP-STAY TUNED FOR UPDATES AND ON WAYS YOU CAN HELP MAKE THIS HAPPEN

Founded in 2016, the Franciscans of the Passion are a small Order of Traditional Franciscan friars that are dedicated to rescuing the Franciscan Rule to the advancement of the Kingdom of God in the Traditional Latin Rite of the Church.

The Order's official name is Frates Dominicae Passionis et B.M.V. Perdolentis—Franciscans of the Passion and of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Sorrows—popularly known as "Franciscanos da Paixão" or the Franciscans of the Passion.Right now, the Order has three friars—Friar Pio, Friar Antônio, and Brother Rubens. In Portuguese—Frei Pio, Frei Antônio and Irmão Rubens.Friar Pio is the founder and superior of the Order. Born in the small town of Bofete, State of São Paulo, he professed the perpetual vows as a Franciscan friar in 2014. Wishing to rescue the original rule written by St. Francis of Assisi, he decided to found a Franciscan order that would be dedicated to the Traditional Latin Rite. Along with another friar, the new order was formed. In February 2016, they moved to Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, to serve in the Apostolic Administration Saint John Vianney, under Bishop Dom Fernando Arêas Rifan.Soon after the move, the other friar left, and Friar Pio stayed alone to continue the work he had set out to do. With much prayer, he continued with his mission by assisting at the parishes of the Apostolic Administration in the Liturgy of the Holy Mass and teaching catechism classes.In December 2016, Brother Afonnso, sixteen, arrived in Campos dos Goytacazes, accompanied by his father. Afonnso, born in Monteiro, State of Paraíba (in Northeast Brazil) had insisted to his parents that he had religious vocation and wished to join the Order right away. Afonnso graduated from high school in Campos and persevered in a life of prayer and work required by the rule of the Order. By the Lord's grace, in April 2020, Afonnso received his novitiate and took the name of Frei Antônio Maria do Menino Jesus (Friar Anthony Mary of the Child Jesus).In October 2019, a new postulant arrived—Brother Rubens. He was born and raised in Itapetininga, a small town in São Paulo. He is scheduled to be accepted into the novitiate next year and will take the name of Friar Miguel.In Campos, the friars diligently served the diocese by continuing to assist the priests in the Liturgy of the Mass and in all of the Sacraments. They also helped with the daily needs and activities of the parish where they were located, teaching catechism classes to children and adults.Besides helping in the diocese, the friars started posting daily messages on social media and putting videos about the Catholic faith on Facebook and YouTube. In this manner, they were able to reach out to the faithful, always seeking to help in the salvation of their souls.In October 2019, a new door was opened to the Franciscans of the Passion and (with the recommendation of Bishop Dom Rifan) they moved to the town of Cardoso Moreira, State of Rio de Janeiro, just a few miles northwest of Campos.Now they are serving in the diocese of Santíssimo Salvador de Campos dos Goytacazes, under Bishop Dom Roberto Francisco Ferrería Paz, who promptly gave them permission to work in the diocese as a religious house.In Cardoso Moreira, they are helping Father David Francisquini (an exorcist and a priest dedicated to the Traditional Latin Mass) of the Chapel of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.The faithful became accustomed to the friars only a few days after their arrival. They really appreciate that the friars are bringing back traditions that have not been available for decades. These traditions have helped the faithful to grow closer to Our Lord and the Church.A touching instance of this was on the day after Christmas: the friars visited the faithful in their homes, carrying a statue of the Baby Jesus. People of all ages were delighted with the visit.In the first two months of 2020, flooding devastated Cardoso Moreira, and the people suffered much because of it. In January, the friars promoted a procession through the streets, imploring the Lord for His mercy and requesting the intercession of Our Lady Aparecida, patroness of Brazil, to stop the rains and the flood. In February, the friars led a second procession, this time with the Blessed Sacrament. Was a beautiful scene: people in the streets knelt down in reverence to the Blessed Sacrament and prayed.Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the friars have sewn dozens of face masks to donate to the people. In April, they led a car procession through the streets of the town, the first of which displayed a life size image of Our Lady of Fatima on a truck. All the while, they were praying the Holy Rosary on a megaphone, imploring for God, in His mercy, to end the pandemic. The faithful set up small altars in front of their houses and waved to Our Lady and the friars, praying as the truck went by the streets.Since the friars' arrival, a large number of students began attending the Adult Catechism classes that had been taught in a classroom at Fr. David's chapel, but which they had started teaching online because of the pandemic. The classes are always taught with emphasis on the Church's teaching on the family and the right to life from conception to natural death.recordings of the daily audio messages and meditations that are being sent to the faithful via social media. Many of the messages are based on the writings of Saint Alphonsus Marie de Liguori and other saints. People have been reaching out to thank them for the inspiring and educational messages.Together, the Franciscans of the Passion seek to live a conventual and missionary life, working for the glory of God, their personal sanctification, and the wellbeing of souls. Their work consists of praying and doing their apostolate. They also offer merits for their benefactors, those who seek their prayers, saintly vocations to widen the apostolic work, and for all the needs of the Church. They also pray that in their midst there will be calls for priestly vocations. Having a priest of their own would be a great blessing.Upon their arrival in Cardoso Moreira, Father David generously allowed the friars to stay with him in his small house; however, the friars knew that would only be a temporary arrangement. It was very important to find a place of their own.The Franciscans of the Passion have been contacted by several devout Catholic men from all over the country who wish to join them, but more room is needed. In fact, they wish to grow in numbers of friars so as to have more workers for the Lord in their mission. A huge part of this mission is the foundation of a friary. Despite having no financial means, they trusted confidently in Divine Providence, and decided to acquire a property so they could finally have the stability to start a friary.They went through many potential properties and nothing seemed to work out. After a long search, they finally located one that seemed to be perfect; one could see God’s hand in it. In hindsight, it seems like all the difficulties were for the best; for, in the middle of the month of May 2020, they received an offer from the owner of a certain property that they could not refuse.Just the way they found this property was really a blessing: the friars had seen a ranch which was for sale and had much of what they needed to get started—a house with four large bedrooms and enough land to build a chapel and a guest house. They had room to plant as well. The location was perfect and near the town. However, the price was too high.They decided to start a Novena to St. Anthony of Padua and a Novena for the Souls in Purgatory in the hope that maybe a smaller piece of the land could be sold to them. The day after the Novenas were completed, the owner of the property came to their door with a sale offer—the entire ranch for less than half of the original sale price. The seller also made two special promises with the offer: to donate enough brick to build the chapel and to lend, at no extra cost, a piece of land connected to the property, which belongs to his family, but was not in use, so the friars could also cultivate and plant there.They were even more surprised with the grace they had received when they found out the original name of the ranch: Chácara Santo Antônio, or St. Anthony's Ranch! Their prayers were answered in such a wonderful manner. Thank you, St. Anthony!Now, a problem remains: the Franciscans of the Passion have no money. They live entirely on donations from the people; without them, they would not even be able to eat. So prayers, more than ever, are now needed. In addition to prayer, a fundraising campaign has been started by those who know the friars and appreciate their mission.The owner and seller of Chácara Santo Antônio told the friars that by accepting the offer, they could move in right away and pay by November 2020. With hope and trust in the Lord's Providence and Mercy, they decided to accept the offer. It is now a race against the clock to raise the needed funds.The friars have already moved into the house. In less than two weeks, with the help of some of the faithful, the house was cleaned and painted, and the landscape was cared for. They even built a grotto with a spout for the natural spring water which comes from within the property. Now the people of the town can have access to the spring water right outside the entrance gate.To make their move into the house possible, the faithful donated various items they had on hand or could afford giving them, including paint, some furniture, and even a brand new refrigerator.Now the friars had a place to start the new friary, and its name was already chosen. When Friar Pio founded the Order in 2016, he made a promise to St. Anthony of Padua that the first friar to receive the novitiate in the Order would be called "Antônio" and the first religious house they opened would be called "Convento Santo Antônio," or St. Anthony's Friary.The inauguration of the Friary was on June 13, 2020, on the Feast Day of St. Anthony. On the morning of June 13th, Fr. David Franciquini said the first Holy Mass at the Friary. Due to the pandemic, only a small number of people could be invited. For those who could attend, it was indeed a time of grace.Later in the day, the friars went out and distributed the "Little Bread of St. Anthony" to the people of the town, a tradition in Brazil on the Feast Day of St. Anthony. The bread had already been blessed by Fr. David that morning.Fundraising efforts to pay for the property have started, but the people that the friars serve in Cardoso Moreira are very poor, which is one of the main reasons for this page. It was created in Portuguese, Spanish and in English to introduce the Franciscans of the Passion and their work, and also to appeal for financial help, so the property can be paid in full by November 2020.We hope that the Lord will touch peoples' hearts and raise their interest in helping the friars in acquiring their land and grow as an Order.The friars live from the donations received. They do not have any income and do not receive help from the diocese, so they do not have money to rent or purchase a house or a piece of land.This appeal is for those who come to know and see that the friars' mission of spiritual and corporal works of mercy is helping the faithful in Cardoso Moreira-RJ, as well as those whom they impact via social media. They hope to help as many people as they can to grow in closeness and love to the Lord, Our Lady, and their Catholic faith. The Franciscans of the Passion have a vow of poverty and they cannot acquire property personally or in the name of the Order. For that reason, Família Seráfica, a non-profit organization, registered with Receita Federal—the federal tax agency of Brazil—was created in order to receive donations, pay for (and hold the title of) the property, and to maintain Chácara Santo Antônio, where the Friary is located. Família Seráfica is formed by an all-volunteer Board of Advisors of lay people who are assisting the friars in this part of their mission.Donations are not tax-deductible outside of Brazil as Família Seráfica is not registered as a charitable organization outside the country. However, donations from overseas are especially helpful and appreciated. Because of the exchange rate, donations sent in U.S. Dollar or in Euro can go a long way toward paying off the ranch for the Friary. Depending on the exchange rate of the dollar on a given day, one dollar (US$ 1) may arrive in Brazil as four reais (R$ 4)*. A donation of US$ 1,000.00 would give them around R$ 4.000,00 (four thousand reais)—four times closer to the total amount to be paid.* Note: This is just an example, as the value of the exchange rate changes daily, and it depends on various global factors and the current internal economy in Brazil. The daily exchange rate can be found online.That is the reason the friends of the Franciscans are hoping to find more donors willing to help. Any amount would make a big difference in reaching the goal. Together, we can help the Franciscans of the Passion do God's work and establish a modest but worthy friary.We pray that faithful Catholics who appreciate the work the friars are doing will help us to reach the goal by November 2020, otherwise the property will need to be returned to the seller.The Franciscans of the Passion wholeheartedly thank all who choose to help in their mission and pray daily for all their benefactors. Moreover, they will be happy to receive the visit of any benefactors who might be able to, one day, make the trip to Cardoso Moreira, State of Rio de Janeiro.

Any questions, please contact us via email (in English): franciscansofthepassion@gmail.com

Donations:

Associação Família Seráfica

 CNPJ: 37.218.597/0001-55

 Bank: Banco do Brasil (Italva, RJ)

 Branch Number: 3677-3

 Account Number: 19684-3

Notes on international donations:1. For international donations, our friends who live overseas suggest using TransferWise https://transferwise.com, as there are no hidden fees and the exchange rate is paid almost in full, and they have had good results with the service. However, there are other forms to send us your donations — please consult your bank, if your prefer. PayPal also works, but through experience we know that they deduct a large percentage from the money you donate.2. Donations sent to us from outside Brazil are not tax-deductible. We are a charitable institution registered in Brazil only.