The Birth of a Province
In the seventeenth century, a few adventurous friars with powerful missionary zeal began a new and important work of service in Ireland, a work that took many of them far from their homelands. It was from these Irish Capuchin Franciscan friars of St. Patrick that the Bishop of Baker City, Oregon, sought help to pastor and serve poor immigrants looking for a new life in the American west in the early 1900's.
After almost 70 years of pioneering, growth, and service, the Capuchins of the west were finally strong enough to stand on their own. On April 18, 1979, the Capuchin Franciscan Friars of the western United States officially become the Province of Our Lady of Angels of the Portiuncula—the Western American Province. The province was formed to serve six western states—California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, and Arizona—as well as much of northern Mexico in the states of Chihuahua, Nuevo Leon, and Sonora.
Over the years, the worldwide Order of the Capuchin Franciscan Friars has ministered to German, Irish, Italian, and Asian immigrants, Hispanics, Native Americans and African Americans. Today, the Capuchins serve throughout the world and are one of the largest religious Orders of men in the Church, with about 12,000 members.
As members of the Capuchin community, we are inspired by St. Francis of Assisi. Francis was a unique and dynamic individual who lived life with a passion for peace, honesty, and charity. While society was turning away from Christian values, Francis embraced the message of Christ and lived simply, serving the poor. He sought to be a living example of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
As we face the ongoing challenge of a society disenchanted with religion, we, too, are committed to be witnesses to the gospel through lives of brotherhood, prayer, and the communal life of poverty and simplicity.