Welcome to the Office of Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation for the Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn! 

Over Eight hundred years ago, St. Francis of Assisi profoundly changed the world with his message of peace, his concern for the poor, and his love for all creation. Francis believed that Christ and the gospel called him to be one with all people and all Creation. For followers of Francis, this universal and all-inclusive relationship demands resistance to injustice, exploitation, and all oppression that mock what God so lovingly expressed through the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus. 

Living Our Founding Charism of Ministry to Immigrants

On August 4, 2019, five Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn arrived in El Paso, Texas to spend the week ministering to migrant refugees at Casa de Refugiado and in Cuidad Juárez, México.

After arriving in El Paso, the Brothers had the opportunity to attend a prayer vigil for the victims of the mass shooting at the Walmart that occurred the day before. The Brothers were grateful that to be able to pray with the people of El Paso.

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Days of Franciscan Action

The Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn took action in Washington, DC and Newark, NJ on behalf of immigrant families and children.

In Washington, DC, there was a gathering for prayer and protest on the grounds of the capitol with a procession to the Rotunda of the Russell Senate office building for action on behalf of immigrant families, particularly the children separated and detained.

On September 4, over 400 people gathered for prayer at St. Mary’s Abbey in Newark, NJ followed by a procession to ICE offices where Cardinal Tobin’s spoke and gave a blessing and we heard speakers from the community, and there was risk-taking witness of 50 plus persons in the street of Newark as a testimony of the power of local and national communities on behalf of those separated and detained at the border.

No Fear - No Hate Solidarity March

by Brother Greg Cellini, O.S.F.

Having just returned in mid-afternoon to Brooklyn Heights after cohosting four radio shows in New Jersey and being up since 2:00 am, I was very much looking forward to enjoying much of the rest of the weekend to myself. I was not even home five minutes when I was approached by Brother Joseph Bach, O.S.F., our Vocation Director and Director of the Office of Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation. Brother Joseph was wondering if I wanted to participate in a No Fear - No Hate Solidarity March taking place the next day in support of ending the racism against Jewish people occurring in New York City. I could not help think, “I am not Jewish, why should I go?”. While my exhausted body and mind told me to politely decline, the Holy Spirit more strongly encouraged me to accept the invitation.

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Mother Cabrini March

The Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn participated in a march to raise awareness of the St. Frances Xavier Cabrini. A march in Brooklyn on October 6 demanded a public statue of Mother Cabrini, as the patron saint of immigrants is best known.

More than 1,000 joined the march in Brooklyn’s Carroll Gardens neighborhood led by Bishop DiMarzio and Monsignor David Cassato, the director of the Brooklyn diocese’s Italian apostolate. Afterward, Bishop DiMarzio celebrated Mass at Sacred Hearts-St. Stephen Church. During his homily, Bishop DiMarzio said Mother Cabrini would not have asked for a statue herself but noted a statue would honor the memory of immigrants and remind New Yorkers of their responsibility to each other.

Mother Cabrini “reminds me every day of the missionary spirit with which she approached her work with migrants,” Bishop DiMarzio said, adding that he hopes “the same spirit continues to inspire me not only with my work with migrants but also with the Diocese of Brooklyn entrusted to my care.” In honoring “this great saint today,” he continued, “we recognize our responsibility to follow in her footsteps, so that the new immigrants in our midst—be they Italian and today most frequently they are not—but anyone who has left their homeland to find a home in the United States of America should find among we who are Catholics and honor Mother Cabrini willing hands of assistance and welcome, so that they too may breathe the air of freedom and practice their faith in God without hindrance.”

We make Christ present by rebuilding His Church, by sowing seeds of Christian consciousness and brotherhood, and by living together in peace.

from the Constitutions of the Franciscan Brothers