Capuchin Franciscans - Western America Province

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Capuchin Franciscans - Western America Province

PRAYER - FRATERNITY - SERVICE
Inspired by St. Francis of Assisi. Inspired the Cappucchino. ☕️
Since 1528. 📍 CA, NV, AZ, OR, WA, & ID Francis. St.

The Capuchin Franciscans are a unique community of priests and brothers who live and pray together, inspired by St. 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 himself said, “I have done what is mine to do; may Christ show you what is yours.” So we Capuchins gather to pray togethe

r and ask God to direct us in the world today. Our Mission Statement and Guiding Principles help us live our Capuchin Franciscan life in Western America in the 21st century. What We Do

The friars of the Western America Province seek to serve Christ in a variety of ministries throughout California and Northern Mexico. Our ministries include work in parishes, schools, chaplaincies, retreat houses and the missions. In all these ministries, from San Francisco to Watts to Monterrey, Mexico,our goal is always the same - to be a joyful presence of hope and salvation to all, espcially to those most in need. Wherever we are, we seek to find the power of Christ working in his people. PRAYER
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
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
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.

09/04/2026

Loving and Generous God, it is You who call us by name and ask us to follow you. Help OUR CAPUCHIN POSTULANT BROTHERS to grow in Love and wisdom during this postulancy year. Give them the energy and courage of your Spirit who makes all things new. May they embrace Christ's mission of love and service as our Holy Father Saint Francis did. Open their hearts to your call and inspire them to know You better during this postulancy year. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen

09/03/2026

09/01/2026

Spend a weekend living as a Capuchin friar.

Join the friars in Santa Ynez for the Come and See Retreat. You’ll pray with the friars, share meals and community, learn about the Capuchin way of life and spend time getting to know the friars and their daily life.

The retreat is open to men ages 18–35 discerning religious life and is free. One spot is left - apply today at the link in our bio.

September 4-6 | Santa Ynez, CA

08/28/2026

St. Francis of Assisi, our Seraphic Father, pray for us.

08/24/2026

DEATH OF FR. HILARY MARTIN O.P.

It is with sadness that we share the passing of Fr. Hilary Martin, O.P., Professor Emeritus of DSPT, who died peacefully at the age of 97. Fr. Hilary remained devoted to the mission of DSPT until the very end, recently expressing his hope to continue teaching in the coming year.

We give thanks for his many decades of scholarship, service, and unwavering dedication to our community.

For more information about his funeral arrangements, please visit https://opwest.org/blog/death-of-fr.-hilary-martin-o.p

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.

08/23/2026

Please join us in joyfully welcoming our seven new postulants, accepted into the Capuchin Franciscan Order:

Evan Havrilla, 20, Moscow, ID
Ryan Yarhi, 20, Reno, NV
Dylan Walters, 22, Colleyville, TX
Terry Nguyen, 24, Huntington Beach, CA
Nick Kisielewski, 36, Rockford, MI
Bryan Villaluz, 39, Camarillo, CA
Chase Wall, 42, Reno, NV

Please keep these men in your prayers as they begin this journey with the Capuchin friars.

What is a postulant?

Postulancy is the first formal stage of Capuchin formation. The word comes from the Latin postulare, which means to ask. A postulant is a man asking to enter the life of the friars, and the period of postulancy gives him the time and space to test that calling.

Feeling the call to religious life? Contact us at CapuchinsWest.org.

08/22/2026

Today August 22nd is the birthday of our Capuchin student friar, BR. SIMON LI. Please join us in praying a prayer of blessing for him celebrating the precious gift God gave to us on his birthday:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SIMON

Because you are very special to us, on the day you were born we raise a prayer asking the Lord to grant you today and always reasons to smile, moments to enjoy and loved ones with whom to share.

You are a precious gift from God and we wish with all our love that you are at peace on your birthday, as you deserve it. We pray that serenity and joy may accompany you forever and that your treasured moments never end.

Today is a very special day for you because it is the day that God chose for you to be born. May your gifts today be Love, Peace and Serenity.

You may email Br. Simon a note of congratulations at:
[email protected]

08/20/2026

OUR CAPUCHIN BROTHER PETER CIOLINO CELEBRATES 50 YEARS OF CAPUCHIN LIFE

On August 19, 2026 our Capuchin brother PETER CIOLINO celebrated 50 years of having been invested in the Capuchin habit. Please join us in praying for him and for his perseverance in his vocation.

Father in heaven, source of all holiness, creator of the human race, your love for us was so great that you gave us a share in your own divine life. Neither the sin of Adam nor even the sins of the world could alter your loving purpose.

In the dawn of history you gave us Abel as an example of holiness. Later, from your beloved Hebrew people you raised up men and women graced with every virtue.

Foremost among them all stands Mary, the ever-virgin daughter of Zion. From her pure womb was born Jesus Christ, your eternal Word, the Savior of the world. You sent him, Father, as our pattern of holiness. He became poor to make us rich, a slave to set us free. With love no words can tell he redeemed the world by his paschal mystery and won from you the gifts of the Spirit to sanctify his church.

The voice of the Spirit has drawn countless numbers of your children to follow in the footsteps of your Son.
Among these you raised your servant Francis who professed evangelical holiness so that at the command of Christ crucified he might in himself and his brothers repair the Church, your dwelling, and renew it through holiness of life. Therefore, O Lord, look upon our Brother PETER whom in your providence you have called to follow the poor, humble Francis, the lover of the cross. Pour into him the fullness of the sevenfold Spirit so that what he has promised today with joy and gladness through your giving, he may with divine assistance observe faithfully to the end.

May he be firmly established in true humility; may he be inflamed with love for Christ and a compassionate love for his brothers; may he prefer nothing to the commands of obedience; may he follow highest poverty, gird himself with the virtue of patience and not extinguish the spirit of prayer and holy devotion.

May he build up the Church by the holiness of his life, advance the salvation of the world and stand as a sign of the blessings that are to come.

Lord, holy Father, protect and guide this servant of yours. At the judgment seat of your Son be yourself his great reward. Give him the joy of vows fulfilled. Made perfect in your love, may he rejoice in the communion of your saints and praise you forever in their company. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen

You may email Br. Peter a note of congratulations at:
[email protected]

08/14/2026

this is your reminder to start your day in prayer ☕️

08/12/2026

Padre Pio, Capuchin friar, pray for us.

Address

1345 Cortez Avenue
Burlingame, CA
94010

Website

http://capuchinswest.org/

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