ENG
ESP
WHO WE ARE
The Capuchins
Who we are
Capuchins
The Capuchins are the youngest Franciscan branch, going back to 1525, when a few Minor Monks from the Marcas, Italy region wanted to live their prayer and poverty lives more rigorously, to be closer St. Francis of Assisi original spirit.
Thanks to the support of the Papal Court, the new branch soon received the approval and grew rapidly, first in Italy, and from 1574, through all of Europe. The name Capuchins refers to the peculiar shape of our hood. What started out as a nickname, became the official name of the Order which has extended to 99 countries in the world, and has about 11,000 friars who live in more than 1800 brotherhoods or convents. The simplicity, closeness to the people, our life of prayer, and fraternal spirit in our houses and ministry, are visible signs of our way of life.
Our way of life
The Capuchin brothers, like St. Francis of Assisi, strive to live the Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ’s based in five great pillars:
Prayer
The Capuchin brothers are people of prayer and contemplation. We dedicate important moments to be with God, both alone and in brotherhood; in the meditation of the Word of God and in the action to which it leads to. We learn to pray with the people while encouraging their own prayer.
Brotherhood
The Capuchin brothers strive to live the Christian brotherhood in community and in the communion of goods, affection and support. We see a brother in each man, woman, elders, children, and every creature. We strive to live in universal fraternity.
Mission
The Capuchins want to live the experience of God, the brotherhood, through prayer and action. We are apostles and missionaries of reconciliation, communion, and brotherhood among the people.
Minority
The friars strive to work for the well-being of the people, without personal ambitions, serving as minor friars. We work with joy, love, dedication and simplicity in a wide variety of activities. Being minor is to place ourselves at the service of the simpler and humbler, sharing mainly with the poorest and disenfranchised.
JPIC
The Capuchins want to be men of justice, peace, and love for the creation’s integrity within this conflicted world. We strive to live in harmony with everyone, promoting a harmonic way of life that leads to true transcendence.
Capuchins in Mexico and Texas
The missionary desire of communicating Jesus’s good news led the Capuchin friars to Latin American lands, who for more than three centuries, through a life of science and sainthood, have consecrated themselves to the announcement of the Gospel and the defense of the indigenous people often exploited.
The first Capuchin in Mexico was Fr. Francisco of Ajofrín, who around the years of 1763-1766, arrived in the country to carry out a collection to help the missions entrusted to the Capuchins in Tibet, leaving in this land, the testimony of The Little Poor Man of Assisi. It wasn’t, however, until 1907-1911, when the friars arrived from Catalonia to found the Order,
The revolutionary movements of 1911, made life progressively more difficult for the friars, so they had to leave the country in 1918. The second stage of the friar’s presence in Mexico City, dates from 1921-1926. Their activity in “Nuestra Señora del Pocito”, subsidiary temple of the Guadalupe Sanctuary, was marked by their pastoral attention for the parish, chaplaincies, and preaching. President’s Plutarco Elías Calles ascension to power in 1926 forced the brother to leave Mexico once again.
Around the years 1947-1987, the brothers return with the aim of founding the order, according to the offer by Mexico’s Archbishop, Luis M. Martínez. And so, the construction of a new convent in Las Aguilas, in Mexico City, began in 1947. Since then, the Order has been established in Mexico aided mainly by the brothers from the province of Catalonia and, since 1989, by brothers from the province of Navarre, Spain.
The spirit of brotherhood, fundamental pillar of our charisma, have taken us to a new step in the consolidation of our Order. Where others have placed barriers and walls, we want to build communication and communion bridges. Therefore, by planning a real future of unity and brotherhood, the current Mexico Custody, along with the Texas Custody, will unite creating the New Mexico and Texas Provincial Custody. This union will happen on March 9, 2009 and will undoubtedly be an important happening for the lives of each and every one of the brothers in both vice provinces, as well as for the order and the local churches where we are present.
Capuchins in Texas
The Capuchin presence on the Pacific zone of Texas, begins with the desire of the Navarra brothers of establishing a presence in the United States with the intention of having their own place where the brothers destined to the Philippines and Guam could learn English.
On September 2, 1925, the General Minister instructed the Provincial Minister of Navarra to see to the Dallas-Fort Worth Bishop, who was requesting Spanish speaking priests for his dioceses to serve the Mexico-American colony in the northern part of Fort-Worth, without ending in the foundation.
On September 24, 1952, The Navarra Provincial Minister authorized brother Bienvenido to study with a possible Capuchin founding of the United States Province. Months later, on July 1953, brother Bienvenido received from the Dallas-Fort Worth Bishop, Thomas K. Gorman, a letter expressing interest in having the Capuchins in the dioceses due to the woes of the diocesan clergy, the growing number of the faithful of a Latin-American origin, whose spiritual attention demanded priests who spoke the same language. This request was answered, and the Texas founding began. In the beginning, the presence in Texas was considered another house of the Province. On April 27, 1988, it achieved the Texas Vice- Province category.
The Capuchin brothers have been in the State of Texas since 1954 in various chapels and pastoral ministries with the migrants, mainly in parochial work and the Christianity Course Centers.
-
PUEBLA, PUEBLA
San Leopoldo Mándic Convent
Novitiate House
The Capuchins work in this presence is directed to the pastoral attention of the Preciosa Sangre de Cristo and in the Parres Parishes as well as the visits to the homes of the ill and the old aged.
Pavorreales # 22,Col. Gavilanes. Xilotzingo, ZIP Code. 72580Tel. (01 222) 245-95-27. -
LA PIEDAD, MICHOACÁN
San Antonio de Padua Convent
Postulate House
This brotherhood receives the postulate formation stage and along with this formative work, the brothers collaborate in the ministry of the parishes that request it, particularly in the sacrament of reconciliation and Eucharist celebration. It also dedicates some of its time the catechism of children, youth groups. Bible formation, work with an old age home, and visits to the ill and aged in their homes.
Tancítaro # 196,Col. Vasco de Quiroga, zip code 59380Tel. (01 352) 52-162-89 -
ZAPOPAN, JALISCO
Santa María de los Ángeles Convent
Post- novitiate and Philosophy formation House
The brotherhood collaborates ministerially with various parishes particularly with the sacrament of reconciliation and the celebration of the Eucharist. There is also support with the catechism of children, adults and young people in the outskirts of the city, we support the city hospital’s shelter and promote youth groups in existing communities, aiding in their formation.
Priv. Bugambilias 350.Col. Rinconada Sta. Rita. Zip code 44690 (behind Plaza Mexico)Tel. (01 33) 38-13-24-00. -
CHALCATONGO, OAXACA
Santa María de la Natividad Parish
Mission House in the Oaxaca’s High Mixtecan
Mission brotherhood that collaborates with the local church, attending the parish ministry, that engulfs about four townships with more than forty indigenous communities. The work of our presence.
Independencia 3,Col. Centro. Zip code 01710Tel. (01 95) 35-33-42-44 -
LAGO DE GUADALUPE, CUAUTITLÁN IZCALLI.
Santa Verónica Institute
Formation House of the Capuchin Sisters
Following Francis and Clare of Assis’s spirit of brotherhood, this presence aims to support the Capuchin sisters in their formation center, serving in the celebration of the daily Eucharist, confessions, spiritual guidance, classes, and academic formation.
Bosque del Lago,Cuautitlán Izcalli, Estado de MéxicoTel. (01 55) 58 77 04 23 -
LAS ÁGUILAS, CIUDAD DE MÉXICO
Inmaculada y San Pio Parish
House of Theology Formation and Custodial Curia
Parish life is centered around its main activities in the ministry accompaniment of the center and the neighborhoods belonging to it, in which we, as Capuchins, want to live our charisma. A medical dispensary with a dentist and general doctor, open secondary and preparatory school, academic tutoring, among other services, are the ministry’s environment in which the Theology formation bases its practice.
Gutiérrez Zamora y Rivera s/n,Col. Las Águilas., México, D.F. Zip code 01710Tel. (01 55) 55-93-00-22 -
ISLA MUJERES, QUINTANA ROO
Padre Pio Parish Sanctuary
Mission location where the Minor Capuchin Brothers have managed to build a sanctuary that has the mission of accompaniment the parish community and open a spiritual space dedicated to Father Pio.
Av. Rancho Viejo, P. 471.Zona Cont. Isla Mujeres, zip code 77500Tel. 998 181 6141 -
FORTH WORTH, TX.
Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe
Place of meeting and identity where migrants can share their faith and their being in the midst of the migration reality in these lands. The Capuchins, from our charisma, accompany in the listening and evangelization, but mostly in the attention of this migration reality.
1004 Parsons Ln 71610Tel. 682 703 1597 -
DALLAS, TX.
Nuestra Señora de Lourdes
Mission location in face of the urgent needs of the Hispanic community that lives in the United States. The desire to accompany and encourage the path of our migrant brothers, makes the Capuchins a presence dedicated to the attention of the migrant.
2911 Lapsley St., 75212Tel. 214 377 7643