Francisco Tomás was born on June 24, 1864, into a devout peasant family. His parents, James and Jeronima, earned their living on a small farm in the rural village of Alpandeire in south-west Spain. The eldest son of four children, he worked hard alongside his family to turn the rocky soil into fertile ground.

Father Bill Kraus, O.F.M. Cap., 70, was elected Provincial Vicar for the St. Conrad Province during the April 22-26 Province Chapter meeting in Victoria, Kan. Father Bill, pastor of Our Lady of the Angels Parish in San Antonio, Texas, also served as a counselor on the last Provincial Council.

At the April 22-26 chapter meeting of St. Conrad Province held at St. Fidelis Friary in Victoria, Kan., Capuchin Brother Mark Schenk, 61, made history when he became the first lay friar elected to serve as Provincial Minister.

Born to a wealthy family, St. Francis of Assisi gave up riches and in his radical conversion to Christian life was called Il Poverello, “the little poor man.” He was also known as “the joyful troubadour of the Lord.”