Dear Friends of St. Francis, May the Lord give you peace! 2006 is a very important year for us! We are celebrating 50 years of Franciscan Ministry in Providence. This is milestone year for all of us and I invite you all to participate. In 1953 the Most Reverend Russell V. McVinney, Bishop of Providence invited the Franciscan Friars of Holy Name Province to establish and staff a Chapel and Catholic Information Center in downtown Providence. In January 1956 the Franciscans opened their first storefront apostolate at 38 Dorrance Street. On June 19, 1956 Bishop McVinney dedicated St. Francis Chapel on Page Street. In 1994 we moved to our current location at 58 Weybosset Street and became St. Francis Chapel & City Ministry Center. Over these 50 years St. Francis Chapel has always been a quiet oasis for prayer, reflection, worship and ministry. From the beginning lay volunteers have assisted the Franciscan Friars in this urban ministry. Lay ministers work side by side with the friars in ministering to the hungry at The Bread & Blessings Sandwich Program 3 mornings a week. Lay ministers care for the hungry and sick at the Poverello Center everyday. Lay ministers work in spiritual direction, adult faith formation, evangelization, worship and every other ministry we provide. Without the laity we could not have accomplished so much over the last 50 years. Thank you everyone! As we embark on the next 50 years of ministry in Providence we Franciscans need your help. Please make a gift or pledge to the 2005 – 2006 Annual Campaign celebrating 50 years of Franciscan Ministry in Providence. Your financial support makes all that we do possible. Without it we cannot go on. On behalf of all the Franciscan Friars who have ministered at St. Francis Chapel & City Ministry Center I thank you for the love and support you have given us over these 50 years. Won’t you please help us continue this holy and important work? Everything we do we do in your name, with your support and with the help of God. May God who has begun this work in us bring it to its completion. Sincerely, Fr. Frank Sevola, OFM Guardian and Executive Director (401) 331-6510, Ext. 130