In the name of the Lord, peace!
We the Franciscan Friars of the St. Barbara Province (Western US) are a Roman Catholic religious community called and committed to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In the prophetic spirit of St. Francis of Assisi we work with others to promote justice, peace and care for creation, and reconciliation in our times. This webpage presents our justice, peace and care for creation ministry in three ways: 1.) it explains our values and inspiration; 2.) it describes our partners and our approach to this ministry; and 3.) it provides resources for your own work promoting these values.
Our Inspiration
St. Francis of Assisi is one history’s outstanding models of what it means to live life fully as a follower of Jesus Christ. Francis inspires us in our work. Francis lived a deep life of prayer and boldly proclaimed the Good News of Jesus Christ by his example, preaching, and teaching. His love of Jesus inspired him to public preaching, and to take on the concerns of others. He reached out to the leper, the poor, and marginalized, recognizing Christ’s presence in them. He proclaimed God’s love and peace, actively fostering reconciliation between warring parties. In all of creation, he perceived God’s love and beauty. His life was marked by intense religious experiences, which drew him deeper into the mystery of God. Francis made the message of God’s love understandable to ordinary people.
Our Values
We seek to live the Gospel in the 21st century in the spirit of St. Francis by our witness to God’s love for us today. We do this through our daily choices, our participation in community, and in our engagement with society. We believe every human person has dignity and is worthy of respect. Rooted in this belief, we work for the well-being of all persons and for social justice, which is the expression of this dignity and worth in the political and economic structures that shape society. Because we believe that human beings are created to live in community, we work to foster peace, reconciliation and solidarity. Because we believe that God created the Earth and that it is good, we express our love for God by seeking to care for creation.
Our Approach
We seek to animate justice, peace and care for creation in ourselves, the Church and in the broader society. In the Franciscan tradition, animation is a form of leadership that stresses the power of good example and encouragement. This approach respects and supports others who share our values in living out their calling. We seek not to prescribe what others should do, but to understand and strengthen in every human life prayer, lifestyle, service, preaching and advocacy which for some are the concrete expressions of the love of God.
Our Partners
We share these values with a worldwide family of Franciscan men and women, vowed religious, and lay. At the international level, we work with the Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Office of the Franciscan Friars to animate the broader Franciscan family. We collaborate with Franciscans International, a nongovernmental organization that brings Franciscan values to the work of the United Nations. At the national level we work with the Franciscan Action Network to advocate for our values. The St. Barbara Province of Franciscan Friars offers parish, retreat, social service, missionary and educational ministries in California, Arizona, Oregon, Washington, New Mexico and missions throughout the world.
Our Website
Animation in the Franciscan Tradition
The Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) Animation Project
Franciscans on Care for Creation
