As St. Francis of Assisi had accepted the Gospel as the rule of life for himself and his followers it was only natural that the desire to spread the Good News would be one of his main objectives. He was the first to undertake the direct conversion of the Moslems; the first among the founders of religious orders to include a chapter on foreign missions in his rule; and was probably one of the first to call for dialogue with all religions and with all people of good will.

The young Irish province, re-established in 1885, for many years saw individuals going to foreign countries on the missions. Eventually, in 1910, the first official mission was set up in Bend, Oregon, on the west coast of America. A steady stream of volunteers from the home province kept the mission going until, in 1979, it was strong enough to become a province in its own right, Today we have vice provinces in Zambia, South Africa and New Zealand, with a mission house in Seoul, South Korea, with 50 friars working on foreign soil, not to mention those Irish fnars who became part of the new American province in '79.

Missionary activity has changed over the decades as our understanding of other cultures has increased and the needs of the local churches have changed. In the past the priority was always to set up a church and a school. Now the schools are the responsibility of the national authorities, while the Capuchins and other missionaries work in fostering and supporting the emerging Christian community. The challenges and the opportunities are forever changing. In Zambia HIV is widespread. In South Africa the people are going through the transformation of a shift from Apartheid to democracy.  Korea is a country where Christianity is truly alive and generating much activity in the Church. New Zealand, in contrast, is a country which has entered into some sort of post-Christian era and whose needs are all the more acute.

If you would like information on the Capuchin way of life, please contact our Vocations Director:

Br. Sean Donohoe, OFM Cap.
Capuchin Friary
Station Road
Raheny
Dublin 5.                                                        

Tel: 01-8313886
Fax: 01-8511489
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