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Development Office    CLICK TO GO TO UPDATED WEBSITE

We Need Help It was before this crucifix that the Lord asked Francis to rebuild the Church. In general we are able to cover the majority of our day-to-day needs through our incomes. In fact, through our ordinary income and unsolicited gifts we are able to assist many projects aimed at helping the poor and marginalized of society. But there are some areas of our lives for which we friars do need financial help: Formation to our Life Ministry to the Poor and Marginalised St Anthony's Bread for the poor Major Building Renovations

Formation to our Life

Most men entering our Order spend from about six to ten years in formation preparing to live our way of life and in preparation for ministry. This may include obtaining a tertiary degree in theology and studies in other related fields. While these men are in our formation program, they are not assigned to any ministry; so they have no ordinary income. These education costs continue to rise, and we do need help covering them.

Would you like to contribute towards the expense of forming a friar?

Capuchin students

Our most valuable resource is our members. No amount of money or property can replace the value of dedicated individuals who are able and willing to serve as Capuchins. We continue to invite others to join our way of life.

Email: vocations@capuchinfriars.org.au

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Ministry to the Poor and Marginalised

Some of the friars in Australia are engaged in ministries which are unable to offer income or stipends. The Province depends on donations from friends and benefactors to help support these friars in their ministries. We have friars ministering to Youth, the homeless, to people living with HIV/AIDS, to ethnic groups and to the aged and infirm. These ministries require visiting people in their homes or care places and often involves friars in support work with special "care teams." 

Would you like to sponsor a friar in one of these ministries?

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St Anthony's Bread for the poor

The Dictionary of Devotions by Michael Walsh, (Burns & Oates) says this about St. Anthony's Bread: "...a custom of giving money to the poor under the patronage of the Franciscan friar, St. Anthony of Padua (1195-1231) who was renowned for his service to the poor, and for his sermons against avarice and usury." 

This custom was taken up by the Guild of St. Anthony which was founded in England on the 23rd November 1895 by the Capuchin Franciscan Friars. This same guild was officially introduced to Australia in early 2000 and is based at our St. Anthony's National Shrine in Hawthorn, Melbourne, Victoria.

Members who join the Guild strive to live good Christian lives and through St. Anthony's intercession pray for their own needs and for those people who are in most need of prayers. They pray in particular for the conversion of those who do not believe, for those who are suffering, and for those who are marginalised and most neglected in our society. Through "St. Anthony's bread for the poor" they sponsor particular projects aimed at helping the poor and thereby become "partners in ministry" with the Capuchin Friars of Australia, bringing hope and God's love to those people whose lives the friars touch through their ministries. The friars in return remember the Guild members in their prayers and daily Masses and place their petitions at the altar of Saint Anthony's Shrine, Hawthorn (Melbourne).

Are you interested in becoming a member of St. Anthony's Guild - "partners in ministry" with the Capuchin Friars?

Write to:

The Guild of St. Anthony
PO Box 673 Hawthorn Vic. 3122
development@capuchinfriars.org.au

The Guild of St. Anthony finances a project which provides medicine to a Care Team in Cameroon, West Africa. This team which is made up of a doctor, lay volunteers and two religious sisters ministers to the poor, to those who are living with particular disabilities, to people living with HIV/AIDS and to prisoners. Shipments of medicines are sent regularly.

Would you like to make a donation towards this project?

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Major Building Renovations

We friars of Australia own six of the seven friaries where we live. These buildings are in a constant need of maintenance. 

We have had to make alterations and adjustments to our Friary in Hawthorn, Melbourne in order to accommodate our Post Novices – student friars. We have also renovated the "Coach House" on the property to make it available for visitors and those people who wish to spend some quiet time with the friars.

Donations for any of the above ministries may be sent to:

The Capuchin Deployment Office,
PO Box 604 Leichhardt NSW 2040

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