St. Francis Appeal

In many ways, Saint Francis of Assisi lived a life that mirrored Jesus Christ. He chose a life of abject poverty in service to those in need and traveled to small villages to preach the gospel. He founded the Order of Friars Minor, more commonly known as the Franciscans, in 1209. The Franciscans were known for their kindness and care for the poor and sick.

St. Francis preached that all people are equal in the eyes of God and that we should live simple lives. He also believed that we should care for nature and all of God’s creatures. In 1224, Francis was proclaimed the patron saint of animals and nature by Pope Gregory IX. He viewed the world as a gift from God, and was therefore not only good, but imbued with God himself. As one of the most celebrated religious figures in history, St. Francis is remembered for his kindness for the vulnerable.

Today, his ministry is the underpinning of the mission of the Franciscan Foundation for the Holy Land (FFHL). FFHL exists to help our Christian brothers and sisters remain in the land of the Savior. Holy Land Christians overwhelmingly struggle to find sustainable employment and affordable housing and need our help. Thanks to generous support, FFHL provides affordable housing and supports community infrastructure projects to help Christians stay in their homes and communities. And to help Christians gain skills and knowledge necessary to secure jobs and support their families, FFHL supports schools and educational programs.

Because of the generosity of supporters like you, FFHL can provide these essential educational and humanitarian resources to families in need to help stem the exodus from the Holy Land.