Expanding the San Damiano Friary

San Damiano Friary in San Antonio, Texas is “bursting at the seams” and requires expansion to meet the needs of our current and future students.

Conventual Franciscans live our mission of rebuilding the house of God today through serving in the Roman Catholic Church in ministries that include missionaries, scholars, educators, artists, composers, chaplains, confessors, lawyers, laborers, teachers, writers, musicians, cooks, social workers, campus ministers, parish priests, administrators, and advocates for the poor and marginalized.

Community life or Franciscan fraternity is at the heart of the religious life commitment of the Conventual Franciscans. We vow to live together in Franciscan fraternity and care for each other as Franciscan brothers in a way that incarnates the Gospel mandate in John 13:34, “I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.” Through sharing common prayers and meals our community is centered in Christ.

The rule and life of the Order Friars Minor Conventual is to live in obedience, poverty, and chastity. Living with other friars allows us to remain focused on our vows. In the busy world, it will enable us to slow down and value communal living as an example of the early disciples. Our relationship with one another leads us to grow closer to God and the community we serve.

Our House of Formation in San Antonio, Texas is full and needs expansion both to meet the needs of our current students and to serve future students both from within the United States and those Conventual Franciscan students from Provinces outside the United States who want to join us in a new international formation house.

Our new facility would expand the residence to become a place of intercultural formation. We would also include space for our younger brothers from India, Central America, Mexico, Asia, and Africa and provide them an introduction to the Franciscan global brotherhood. The $1 million expansion will allow us to nearly double the number of students that can be accommodated at this location (from 18 to 30).

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