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Our Eucharistic Lord
Franciscans and the Eucharist....


From their earliest days, the Franciscans and the Capuchins have been in the forefront of the Church's effort to bring the Gospel to the entire world.

Thus North American Capuchin-Franciscan friars are presently serving local churches in Papua New Guinea (PNG), Australia, Japan, the Mariana Islands, Hawaii, Mexico, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Puerto Rico, Zambia, and the Middle East.

Six of Mid-America's 55 brothers serve in this fashion:

Father JOSEPH SCHRECK, in Puerto Rico since 1956
Father PETER MEIS, in Papua New Guinea since 1968
Bishop STEVE REICHERT, in Papua New Guinea since 1970 Father DONALD DEBES, in Papua New Guinea since 1971
Father BILL KRAUS, in Mexico since 1998 (some letters)
Brother JERRY WINTZ, in Papua New Guinea since 1999 (some letters)
Father FRANCISCO RAMIREZ in Mexico

Bro. JERRY WINTZ arrived in Papua New Guinea Sept. 9, 1999, and after receiving orientation in the local cultures and studying Melanesian Pidgin, to increase his ability to communicate with the local Papua New Guineans, he began teaching and doing maintenance work at the national minor seminary at Kap near Madang, which the Capuchins operate for the bishops of PNG and the Solomon Islands. From 2002 till 2004, Brother studied at ther Franciscan Institute in western New York in preparation for formation work in Papua New Guinea. He is now guardian of the new formation house in Madang and in charge of post-novitiate formation. Some of his general letters to friars, family and friends are available on line.

Meanwhile, Fr. BILL KRAUS is in his eighth year in the mountains of northern Mexico, a mission staffed primarily by friars of the Western American province. Shortly after Bill's arrival in 1998, the friars there began a postulancy program which attracted seven young men who had long wanted to join the Order. Bill worked with them and also served as an associate pastor to the main station in Yecora and its many outlying mission stations. In 1999, four of the first class of postulants began their novitiate at Tres Ojitos, Chihuahua, and another half dozen new postulants arrived at Yecora. In 2000 Bill moved to Tres Ojitos to serve as novice master and associate pastor in the neighboring area. Some of his general letters to friars, family, and friends are available on line.

To help support the efforts of our seven Capuchin missionaries and those from other provinces, contact the Capuchin Mission Office P.O. Box 40575, Denver, CO 80204-0575 or (303) 433-0296.

In 1998, a group of laymen interested in the Capuchin missions of Papua New Guinea began the Capuchin Mission Club of Eureka, Missouri, near St. Louis. Begun by Oliver Lerch and John C. Caton, this club of 120 members meets quarterly, studies the work of the Capuchins in Papua New Guinea, and already in its first two years raised $10,000 to fund various projects there, e.g. the building of community water projects in Burani parish and providing tuition for Capuchin seminarians in Port Moresby. It meets the last Saturdays of January, April, July and October. 

This website was created and is maintained by the Capuchin
Franciscan Friars of the Province of St. Conrad. © 2007-2008 Capuchin Friars of Mid-America


Our Province Missions

Some of the Capuchins of the Mid-America Province were among the first Christian ministries to bring the Gospel to Papau New Guinea. In addition to building Churches and administering the Sacraments, the friars translated the Scriptures for the native people and helped establish schools and seminaries.

Our Province currently has missionaries serving in Papau New Guinea, Puerto Rico, and Mexico.


Read letters sent from the missions....
Fr. Bill Kraus in Tres Ojitos, Mexico
Br. Gerry Wintz from Papau New Guinea





"Missionaries are those brothers who bring the good news of salvation to all those in any continent  or region who do not believe in Christ."
- Capuchin Constitutions




"Let us commend this great undertaking to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Good Shepherd..."
- Capuchin Constitutions