Mission
Statement
As Capuchin Franciscans we follow St.
Francis of Assisi as brothers, living the
Gospel in prayer, fraternity and ministry,
witnessing simply to Jesus Christ and the
Church as a joyful presence of hope and
salvation to all, especially to those most
in need.
Guiding Principles
PRAYER - Rooted in our Capuchin
contemplative tradition and expressed in
many forms
As followers of St. Francis, desiring to be
conformed more perfectly to the crucified
and risen Christ
• We affirm that our prayer is rooted in our
Capuchin contemplative tradition and is
expressed in many forms.
• We seek to witness both personally and
communally to affective prayer.
• We seek to become a living prayer and
joyful presence to draw others to Christ.
FRATERNITY - Rooted in mutual love,
humble reverence and respect for one another
and for all people
We Capuchins are friars minor, rooted in
mutual love, humble reverence and respect
for one another and for all people.
• Individually and communally, we commit
ourselves to be in greater solidarity with
the poor.
• We manifest a compassionate caring
attitude toward one another as brothers.
• We affirm, animate, support and encourage
the building of community.
MINORITY - Following the meek and
humble Christ and sharing our joy as lesser
brothers by walking with people of every
social condition
As brothers of St. Francis, we faithfully
follow the meek and humble Christ.
• We cultivate a disposition of humility and
respect of the dignity of others
• We share our joy as lesser brothers by
walking with people of every social
condition and by being instruments of
reconciliation.
We commit ourselves to the evaluation of our
lifestyle, both individually and communally.
Our Spirituality
The Capuchin Franciscans are a unique
community of priests and brothers who live
and pray together, inspired by St. Francis
of Assisi. Following his guiding principles
of Prayer, Fraternity and Minority, we
strive to live out the Gospel of Christ
following the teachings and example of St.
Francis. St. Francis himself said, “I have
done what is mine to do; may Christ show you
what is yours.” So we Capuchins gather to
pray together and ask God to direct us in
the world today. Our Mission Statement and
Guiding Principles help us live our Capuchin
Franciscan life in India, Karnataka in the
21st century.
The Capuchins bring to the Franciscan Family
and the world a distinct expression of the
Gospel. In and through our life of prayer,
we strive to live out the Gospel practicing
charity and embracing evangelical poverty as
brothers to all.
Capuchin Virtues:
The Capuchin Franciscans seek to live out
and share with the world a Gospel vision of
life. Our particular call emphasizes the
importance of prayer, brotherhood and
poverty. We seek to live these out by lives
focused on simplicity, recollection and
above all charity.
PRAYER Our life in Prayer Prayer to God, as the breathing of love,
has its origin from a movement of the Holy
Spirit through which an interior person
listens to the voice of God speaking to the
heart. Thus begins the chapter in the
Constitutions which refer to the brothers'
life of prayer. Prayer is an essential
aspect of the life of a Capuchin Franciscan
friar... and the life of any Christian for
that matter!
“Prayer to God, as the breathing of love,
has its origins from a movement of the Holy
Spirit.” So our Constitutions remind us how
vital prayer is for our life as friars, as
for all Christians. We are told by St.
Francis that above all we should “cultivate
a spirit of holy prayer and devotion to
which all temporal things should
contribute.” We try to order our lives as
Capuchins so that like St. Francis we may
not only pray, but in fact strive to “become
a living prayer.” Imagine that!
The Constitutions further urge the friars:
"Let us above all cultivate a Spirit of holy
prayer and devotion to which all temporal
things should contribute that we may become
true followers of Saint Francis who was seen
not so much praying as having become a
prayer." Imagine... becoming a prayer!
FRATERNITY Our life in Fraternity and Charity Our life in charity leads us to live a
fraternal life rooted in service to others.
“And the Lord gave me brothers.” Like St.
Francis, we seek to be “brothers to all
people.” We live together so that we can
learn to love one another, as Jesus has
loved us. Following the example of St.
Francis, however, we live a fraternal life
that reaches out also to all our brothers
and sisters, especially those in most need.
In this way, through our community life and
ministry we strive always to live the Gospel
vision of peace, joy, and charity.
MINORITY Our Life In Minority
Capuchins seek
to live in an environment where all are
truly equal, where no individual has power
over another. This concept of minority lends
itself to joyfully accepting and serving
people of all walks of life, every social
condition.
The Capuchins bring to the Franciscan Family
and the world a distinct expression of the
Gospel. In and through our life of prayer,
we strive to live out the Gospel practicing
charity and embracing evangelical poverty as
brothers to all.
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NEWS/ANNOUNCEMENTS
Fr. Manohar Mervin Dsouza
Vocation Director
ST. ANNE’S FRIARY
Jail Road, Kodialbail Post, Mangalore
Karnataka - 575 003, India
Phone: 9980104579 / 9481976210
Email: mmdsouza1972@gmail.com
