Conventual Franciscans Midwest USA

Conventual Franciscans Midwest USA Conventual Franciscan Friars of St. Bonaventure Province serving Midwest USA.

Many of you see us in our habits all the time, but did you know the significance of them? They're a very special and vit...
09/09/2026

Many of you see us in our habits all the time, but did you know the significance of them? They're a very special and vital tradition that we share with centuries of friars before us, and thousands of other Franciscan friars throughout the nation and world today.

Any other questions about the life of a friar? Let us know!

09/04/2026

Br. Martin was a beloved member of our community. He was an incredibly fun and holy man for all of those who had the pleasure of meeting him. This video showcases just a few lives he touched.

God rest your soul Br. Martin as you reside in your eternal resting place in Heaven.

On Monday, August 24, 2026, + Br. Martin SCHMITZ was embraced by Sister Death at the Little Sisters of the Poor – St. Jo...
09/04/2026

On Monday, August 24, 2026, + Br. Martin SCHMITZ was embraced by Sister Death at the Little Sisters of the Poor – St. Joseph Home for the Elderly in Palatine, IL, aged 96, and having been a Franciscan Religious Brother for over 75 years. His loss is felt throughout the Province of St. Bonaventure and beyond; he was the last of the pioneers of Marytown and among its first vocations in 1948. He lived his life inspired by the witness of St. Francis and St. Maximilian Kolbe, and was completely dedicated to serving the Immaculata.

The Franciscan Wake Service was held in the Chapel of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament at the National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe (Marytown) on Thursday evening, August 27, 2026. With Fr. Lawrence ZUREK presiding, the Wake Service was well attended by many friars, staff, and friends. Br. Joseph WOOD gave a touching tribute to Br. Martin, reflecting on his saintly character, devoted life, and tireless commitment to our Order and mission.

The following day, the Minister Provincial of St. Bonaventure Province, Very Rev. Paul Joseph LANGEVIN, presided over the solemn Holy Mass of Christian Burial at Marytown. The Chapel was full of people, all gathering to bid farewell to God’s “good and faithful servant.” As his casket was placed into the hearse, the friars chanted the ‘Salve Regina,’ asking Our Lady’s intercession for the soul of Br. Martin. He was laid to rest in the friar’s section in St. Adalbert Cemetery, Milwaukee, WI.

August 29th mark the Memorial of the Passion of Saint John the Baptist. We remember his martyrdom at the hands of Herod ...
08/29/2026

August 29th mark the Memorial of the Passion of Saint John the Baptist. We remember his martyrdom at the hands of Herod Antipas. John the Baptists had spoken out about the illegal marriage between Herod and his half-brother's former wife, Herodias. During Herod's birthday, Herodias performed a dance that completely entranced the King. He agreed to grant her anything she wished for. She wished for the head of John and Baptist, and though Herod was uneasy at the request he agreed to it.

It was not a classic martyrdom in which someone refuses to renounce their faith, but rather he refused to renounce the truth.

John the Baptist is quoted saying, "He must increase, I must instead decrease." He gave all he had to his faith in Christ, and in the end decreased to the point of death rather than lose courage in his truth.

Today we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Augustine. He is one of the four great doctors of the Western Church and is rec...
08/28/2026

Today we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Augustine. He is one of the four great doctors of the Western Church and is recognized to this day as one of the greatest theologians of the Church, especially with his thoughts on the Trinity, grace, and the Church.

His book Confessions details a large portion of his life and has been a great theological guide over many decades. He lays out his trials and tribulations and his great spiritual thought. His book The City of God is also extremely notable.

Augustine was very outspoken about the importance of grace in your relationship with God, and was given the name "Doctor of grace," for his extensive thoughts on the topic.

August 27 marks the feast day of Saint Monica, the mother of St. Augustine.She was born in 331 A.D. in Tagaste, or prese...
08/27/2026

August 27 marks the feast day of Saint Monica, the mother of St. Augustine.

She was born in 331 A.D. in Tagaste, or present-day Algeria. Saint Monica gave birth to three children: Augustine, Navigius and Perpetua. While Navigius and Perpetua joined religious life, Augustine had very little devotion to the faith. This worried Monica and she sent him to religious schooling in Carthage. Augustine continued his refusal to join the faith and did not speak to his mother for 17 years.

Later, Monica received a vision telling her to reconnect with her son. She did so and together with St. Ambrose succeeded in converting Augustine to Christianity.

Later in many of Augustine's oratories he tells of Monica's great devotion to the faith. He wrote: "In place of a basket filled with fruits of the earth, she had learned to bring to the oratories of the martyrs a heart full of purer petitions, and to give all that she could to the poor - so that the communion of the Lord's body might be rightly celebrated in those places where, after the example of his passion, the martyrs had been sacrificed and crowned."

With many recent celebrity deaths like Dolly Parton and Tim Curry, the world is abuzz and grieving. We in St. Bonaventur...
08/27/2026

With many recent celebrity deaths like Dolly Parton and Tim Curry, the world is abuzz and grieving. We in St. Bonaventure are also grieving the loss of a giant of our Province.

Bro. Martin SCHMITZ was visited by Sister Death at the Little Sisters of the Poor - St. Joseph Home for the Elderly, on Monday, August 24, 2026, at around Noon. He was the last of the original Marytown pioneers and it's first vocation. He was 96 years of age, and had been a professed member of the Order for over 75 years. He worked hard and prayed hard his entire life, and his faithful witness and deep devotion to Our Blessed Mother will be forever remembered.

VISITATION
Thursday, August 27, 2026, from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
Little Sisters of the Poor - St. Joseph Home for the Elderly
80 W. Northwest Hwy., Palatine, IL 60067
-AND-
Thursday, August 27, 2026, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe (Marytown)
1600 W. Park Ave., Libertyville, IL 60048
Recitation of the Holy Rosary at 6:30PM
followed by a Franciscan Wake Service at 7:00 PM.
-AND-
Friday, August 28, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM.

FUNERAL
The Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM immediately after the visitation. Bro. Martin will be interred in a private ceremony at St. Adalbert Cemetery in Milwaukee, WI.

August 25 marks the feast day of Saint Louis IX of France. He is the patron saint of Secular Franciscans.He was born in ...
08/25/2026

August 25 marks the feast day of Saint Louis IX of France. He is the patron saint of Secular Franciscans.

He was born in 1214 and was the eldest surviving son of his father, Lous VIII of France. When his father passed away in 1226, he was given the title of King at only 12 years old. His mother, Blanche of Castille, served as regent until he turned 21 and was a very devout Catholic.

During his reign Louis worked to instill a uniform system of justice in which feudal wars within his country could not persist. He also outlawed trial by combat and input a presumption of innocence within the court systems. He worked hard to feed the poor, and some at with him at his dinner table. He built hospitals and schools and was a devout aid to the Franciscan Order.

Today is the liturgical memorial of the queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This memorial falls on the octave of the S...
08/22/2026

Today is the liturgical memorial of the queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This memorial falls on the octave of the Solemnity of the Assumption and was inserted into the liturgical season by Pope Pius XII.

Eight days after the Assumption, her complete body and soul rising into Heaven, she is sat beside the King with the brilliance and purity of a Queen. The Antiphon of the day says, “At your right stands the queen in robes of gold” (Cf. Ps 45:10-14).

Over many centuries great numbers of faithful have turned to Mary for intercession and guidance as she sits beside God in Heaven.

As we near the end of August, don't forget to update or plan your will! It's easy to forget or overlook but its best to ...
08/21/2026

As we near the end of August, don't forget to update or plan your will! It's easy to forget or overlook but its best to get it out of the way to save yourself worry later.

If you want help planning your will you can copy and paste this link or go to the link in our bio:
https://app.lifelegacy.io/?partner=franciscan-community

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6107 North Kenmore Avenue
Chicago, IL
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