FRANCISCANS FOR THE WORLD is a Catholic agency operated by Franciscan Father Mario DiCicco of the Midwest Franciscan Province of the Most Sacred Heart to raise money primarily for very needy Franciscan entities throughout the world. Through appeals to benefactors and through grant writing, Franciscans for the World has benefitted numerous Poor Clare monasteries in underdeveloped nations, a leper rehabilitation in mainland China founded and directed by Korean Friar Stefano Shin, Franciscan missions in South Africa, Brazil, Ecuador, Franciscan formation in Mexico and Italy, Palestinian Christian young men and women with tuition aid to Bethlehem University in Palestine, to name a few. Franciscans for the World aims to relieve missionaries and contemplative Sisters from the persistent necessity for funding to carry on their projects of evangelization by helping them with financial aid. These needs can vary from digging a well in Nigeria, to a special fund for sick Poor Clares in destitute monasteries, to a hospital for a leprosy center, to help for Franciscans in Russia, to aid for Friars in Egypt, Lithuania, Albania, and other poor parts of the world.

In addition to his fund-raising activities, Fr. Mario conducts pilgrimages to the Holy Land, a ministry he has been doing for twenty-eight years. A pilgrimage to the Holy Land, appropriately called the Fifth Gospel, is a special form of spiritual retreat, a religious event in one’s life where the Gospel, read at the sites of its first utterance, takes on a new significant meaning for one who is open to the Holy Spirit. It is a moment of grace for all Christians to visit the scenes of our salvation. Fr. Mario conducts these pilgrimages twice yearly. He just returned from the Holy Land with a small group and says to those who might be fearful of traveling to Israel: “The journey is a safe one. The situation is far different from the images portrayed on television. Both the Palestinians and the Israeli need pilgrims to come to visit for the sake of the economy. I am quite prudent in keeping to the Holy Places.” Fr. Mario holds a doctorate in New Testament and has lived with his Franciscan brothers who have been in the Holy Land for almost 800 years.

The dates for his two pilgrimages for 2004 are: May 29-June 8 and September 19-29. Both are 12-Day experiences. The price for 2004 from Chicago is: $2,495. Prices are available from other major cities.

This address may be used to send donations to Franciscans for the World. This year’s two projects are:

• aid to the 13 Palestinian Christians attending Bethlehem University, operated by the DeLaSalle Christian Brothers,
• and the building of a Franciscan Friary in a housing development for the very poor in Ecuador.