800 years ago, if you were a layperson who followed St. Francis of Assisi and asked to join his order, he likely would not have responded as you expected. If you had a family or a job you were passionate about, he would have counseled you to not leave them but to embrace and live the Gospel in your work and day-to-day life.  

Want to know about St. Francis? Or about St. Clare? Have you heard bits and pieces about these two friends from Assisi but still don't have the complete picture? What is a commitment to God's Creation and ministry to the poor all about?  

Making a high school Franciscan doesn’t just happen. It needs to be an intentional process. Case in point: Padua Franciscan High School, straddling the line between the suburb of Parma and the city of Cleveland. The school began in 1961 as a Franciscan school, an all-boys academy.

There are 8 million stories in the naked city. This line from a late '50s police TV show is just as accurate today as it was over 70 years ago. It's a perfect metaphor for New York City, whose residents can feel exposed and vulnerable, with problems known to only those who extend a helping hand. Each person who lives in New York City has a unique story and list of needs. For many whose stories lead them to the St. Francis Breadline, also known as Franciscan Bread for the Poor, Inc., the need for nourishment only scratches the surface.