We join our voices to those around the world to express our deepest condolences following horrific acts of terror that took place in Paris yesterday. We continue to yearn and work for a world that is free of vengeance and violence and terror.

We pray for all of those whose lives were lost, all those who have been gravely injured, and those who now bear the burden of grief; for all those who have rushed in to provide assistance and security; and that we might find new ways to give birth to peace from the ashes of terror.

We call upon the spirit and intercession of our founder, St. Francis of Assisi, that we might all become “instruments of peace” and that all people of goodwill can come to see that terror and violence are never the solutions to the problems we face.

May all those whose lives were taken in this tragedy rest in peace, and may everyone – especially the people of Paris – feel the closeness of our Loving God during these days of trial and struggle.

Provincial Ministers of the English Speaking Conference of the Franciscan Order

Very Rev. Hugh McKenna, OFM
Province of Ireland
Dublin, Ireland

Very Rev. Kevin Mullen, OFM
Holy Name Province
New York, NY, USA

Very Rev. James Gannon, OFM
Assumption BVM Province
Franklin, WI, USA

Very Rev. Primo Piscitello, OFM
Immaculate Conception Province
New York, NY, USA

Very Rev. Marc LeGoanvec, OFM
St. Joseph Province
Montréal, Quebec, Canada

Very Rev. Patrick Lonsdale, OFM
Immaculate Conception Custody
London, England

Very Rev. Dennis Vavrek, OFM
Christ the King Province
Cochrane, Alberta, Canada

Very Rev. Jack Clark Robinson, OFM
Our Lady of Guadalupe Province
Albuquerque, NM, USA

Very Rev. William Spencer, OFM
Sacred Heart Province
St. Louis, MO, USA

Very Rev. John Hardin, OFM
Saint Barbara Province
Oakland, CA, USA

Very Rev. Jeff Scheeler, OFM
Saint John the Baptist Province
Cincinnati, OH, USA

Very Rev. Richard Grech, OFM
St. Paul the Apostle Province
Malta

Very Rev. Astijus Kungys, OFM
St. Casimir Province
Vilnius, Lithuania

Very Rev. Jozo Grbeš, OFM
Croatian Custody of the Holy Family
Chicago, IL, USA