Franciscan Relief Fund To help the people of Syria & Turkey

Br. Harout Simonian, OFM, [right] is a member of the Holy Land Custody of the Order of Friars Minor [Franciscans.]  Several years ago, while pursuing a Master’s Degree at NYU, Br. Harout lived in our friar community at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Manhattan.  Fr. Andrew Reitz was the pastor of the parish at the time.  He now lives and ministers in Aleppo, Syria.

In a recent email conversation with our Provincial, Fr. Kevin Mullen, Br. Harout wrote:

Thank you very much for all you do and for the efforts of the brothers. Be united in the prayers and fraternity as Franciscans and as humans. I am experiencing the earthquake while I am writing to you right now. It is really scary. It happened now and exactly one hour ago. I can't sleep as it is risky to close my eyes. In case I don't make it, I love you all.   God's blessings upon us all.  Sincerely your brother, Harout

Br. Harout and the brothers in the friary in Aleppo are helping the people of their community as best they can by providing basic needs of food, shelter, and rudimentary medical aid.  He made it very clear to Fr. Kevin that all are in need of help.

If you would like to support the friars in their efforts to support the people of Syria and Turkey, you can make a donation through

St. Francis of Assisi Parish
The Franciscan Relief Fund
4700 Long Beach Blvd,
Brant Beach, NJ 08008

Or visit The Franciscan Relief Fund website at
franciscanrelieffund.org.

Or, you can send a check directly to

The Franciscan Relief Fund
HNP Development Office|
129 West 31st Street
NY, NY 10001

The Franciscan Relief Fund, an initiative of the Franciscan Friars of Holy Name Province, is collecting funds to help the people of Syria and Turkey.  All funds collected will be sent through the Order of Friars Minor [Franciscan] Generalate in Rome.

Thank you for your generosity and your support of our brothers and sisters in Syria & Turkey.