Announcements & Upcoming Events

The Viva Francis Foundation is devoted to the growth and development of the Franciscan mission by assisting the Conventual Franciscan friars in their ministries. Through the years, generous gifts from those who have witnessed and worked with the friars have made it possible to support the students in formation and the older friars that now need more living assistance. Two of the student friars that have benefitted from the Foundation are seen below. Older friars, such as Fr. Alan Ramirez, Fr. Stephen Gross, Fr. Alphonse van Guilder, Fr. Thomas Hamilton and others are now in need of additional care and support in their retirement and the Foundation is here to assist financially. This is all accomplished through your generosity.

Friar Wayne Mulei (in second year of theological studies, Silver Springs MD)
Friar Joseph Wu (recently completed theological studies, Franciscan Institute of Thu Duc)

Your generous donations have allowed the Foundation to contribute greatly to our Province this year! We paid for the tuition of Friar Wayne Mulei ($17,320.00) for his final fall semester in theological school and look forward to assisting the Province again for his tuition in the spring. At the Novitiate, which is thriving with the presence of five novices and four senior friars, we were able to help with overdue neighborhood road maintenance to allow smooth access to the property – the Foundation gave $10,000. toward the total permanent paving project. We never forget the needs of the retired friars who have served us so well and the Foundation was honored to give $41,407.15 towards the reconstruction of five bathrooms at the Castro Valley friary to add to a grant that will allow walk-in showers to replace the old free standing tubs for the accommodation of friars with less agility who are not yet needing to live in care facilities.

The new group of Conventual Franciscan postulants in Chicago with their Director, Father Paul Schneider, and Vice Director Friar Ian Bremar, including (front row, farthest right) Hy Khan Tran, who is from our Province of Saint Joseph of Cupertino. Hy was born in Vietnam and has lived in the U.S. since 2006, emigrating when he was 9 years old. Hy is a baseball fan, loves music and declares “I want to enter the Conventual Franciscan postulancy because I have felt God calling me once again, after a very long time. It came unexpectedly, and I want to take a leap of faith. I do not want to be selfish anymore.” Please pray for Hy and all the other postulants in their first year of formation.

How you can support the work of the Viva Francis Foundation:

  • Today:
    • You can donate securely online at VivaFrancis.org or by mailing a check to:

Viva Francis Foundation

P.O. Box 518

Arroyo Grande, CA 93421-0518.

  • Tomorrow:
    • Consider making one-time gifts from an IRA via Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs).
    • Consider including the Viva Francis Foundation in your estate plan through bequests or beneficiary designations.

On behalf of the Friars and the Viva Francis Foundation, we are eternally grateful for any financial or prayerful support you can provide to help support the Community and their efforts.

Should you have additional questions, please email: info@vivafrancis.org