Shoes give Maria a new life
Maria was born with one leg shorter than the other. As a toddler, she would not walk because it caused pain to her hip and she cried with frustration. Her mother heard about the Casa Franciscana trips to Phoenix for specialized medical care. She took Maria to our clinic where she was enrolled in the…
Read MoreEvery Child Should Have Shoes
Dear Sisters and Brothers, Meet Araceli; she is one of the thousands of children in Mexico who have NEVER had shoes. In the winter her little feet are cold and in the summer she scurries across the hot gravel and dirt and trash. This sweet child wants to go to school. Even though it is…
Read MoreShriners International, Casa Franciscana and Families of the Franciscan Renewal Center
In 1984 the intrepid and visionary Brother Ivo came to the Casa Franciscana Mission. His heart was moved by the many children he saw with disabilities who had no mobility aids and no resources. These limitations often relegated the little innocents to a future life of begging. With his knack for solving problems, his outstanding…
Read MoreCFO ACCEPTED AS A MEMBER OF FRY’S COMMUNITY PROGRAM
The children, elderly, homeless, widows, single mothers, hardworking migrant farmers and all of our marginalized brothers and sisters served by the Casa Franciscana Mission count on us for the basic necessities that we offer. We depend on you to care and to help. However, the Casa Franciscana Outreach board is always looking for other opportunities…
Read MoreWhy We Need Recurring Donors
Did you know that the Casa Franciscana Outreach (CFO) has no staff with the exception of a contracted accountant. In order to keep our administrative expenses low, allowing more money for direct services, may we suggest that you consider becoming a recurring donor. This means that your desired amount (for example $15 per month) would…
Read MoreMen Chosen by The Holy Spirit?
A heartfelt thank you to Kevin Gralen who, after six years on the CFO Board and five years as president, is leaving us. Kevin brought a special spirituality to the board with his ultimate example of living the Gospel – service to others. In his words: In one of the impoverished areas of the world,…
Read MoreWalk in the Shoes (or Barefeet) of a Migrant Farm Worker
Since the COVID pandemic shut down our dining rooms and many other services, the heroic friars and staff of Casa Franciscana have brought the services directly to the needy. Amongst these are the migrant farmworker families in the camps of the agricultural companies. The migrants usually come from the far southern states of Mexico on…
Read MoreChrist’s Cross: The Tree of Life
Dear sisters and brothers, Easter is the celebration of Christ’s resurrection from the dead after being crucified on a tree. Yes, the cross was made of a tree. From His sacrifice another tree sprouted – the Franciscan Tree of Life (FTOL). Many of you know the missionaries who “pollinated” this tree carrying out Christ’s entreaty:…
Read MoreCaring through Books
My dear Sisters and Brothers, Nothing lights up the world like the smile of a child. With our children’s dining room and the youth center closed due to the pandemic we do not see many smiles. Children wander aimlessly with sickness and poverty all around them. As we have moved our ministries into the barrios,…
Read MorePrayer before Opening Gifts
Back by request or start a new tradition: Prayer of Thanks before Opening Gifts Lord, let us hold this time in our hearts, the wrong sizes, the snippets of ribbon and most important, each other. Help us to remember the immense love you have for every person in this room and those that cannot be…
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