- 6107 N. Kenmore Ave, Ste. 5, Chicago IL 60660
- 812.923.6356
- aafsap@aol.com
Our history of helping those in need dates back to 1898, when the friars of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy instituted the first charitable organization to distribute bread, firewood and clothing to the poor.
Gradually, a new idea of charity began to evolve among the friars, a charity aimed at relieving victims of natural disasters or victims of social and political crises. Immediate, simple assistance was with time replaced by development projects, and national charitable projects gradually extended beyond Italian national borders.
Following our Christian beliefs, the Franciscan Friars are committed to working with the world’s most needy regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender.
We exist to show a caring face to a hurting world. We believe that as Christians and Franciscans, we have a responsibility to reach out to these people and make a difference. Our emphasis is with those in greatest need – but we go far beyond providing just financial resources.
We focus on capacity building that helps those in need to become thriving, sustainable communities, and families. Our vision is to work with people in need to help them find a way to solve their dilemmas.
Charity Beyond National Borders
Every year the Franciscan Friars award grants to facilitate people’s development to the point where they are empowered to take care of themselves. To this end, we provide support to those religious brothers, sisters, and other nonprofit organizations that work with the poorest of the poor (domestically and worldwide) to meet their basic human needs.
We fund sustainable projects that provide children with adequate care and value-based education, youth with employment opportunities, and women with means to gain social and economic empowerment; and work closely together with other organizations in order to build a just, hopeful, and sustainable society.
You have our assurance that projects are thoroughly vetted before funding approval. We exercise due diligence to ensure that grantees are in compliance with specific legal and regulatory rules.
Sr. Sofia Lee, of the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Assisi, has been serving as the Director of Sacred Heart Retreat Center since 2017.
She arrived at the Center (located on fifteen acres of rugged land with lots of outcrops) armed with a strong desire to proclaim the word of God and commitment to providing much needed programs to indigent families living in the vast, mostly rural Diocese of Gallup, New Mexico.
Doing God’s work means helping them create new dreams and hopes for themselves and their families, culture and futures. (Click here to continue reading)
St. Anthony’s Charities – U.S.A. Our 2025 Projects
Offer hope to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
USA - Catholic Charities of Southern New Mexico
Expand produce production that is donated to food pantries.
USA - Little Portion Farm - OLAProvince
Support missionary Friars working in remote areas of the world.
USA - SolidarityFund, Chicago, IL
Enrich formation of new priests during their initial Franciscan formation.
USA - Postulancy Program, Chicago, IL
Evangelize via Messenger of St. Anthony to the faithful in India.
INDIA - St Maximilian Kolbe Province, India
Supplement poor children's diet with poulty and eggs while attending at St Anthony primary school.
INDIA - St Anthony school
Seminars for young franciscan priest in their post-novitiate formation.
KENYA - Post Novitiate program
Saving girls from the street by offering courses in baking, sewing, beauty, etc.
CIAD - Benedictine Sisters of St Agathe
Provide a safe haven for poor immigrant families.
ETHIOPIA - Consolata Missionary Sisters
Save lives with new medical equipment at a low income health center.
KENYA - St. John Paul II Ruiri Catholic Health Centre
Reduce water-borne illnesses by building new underground water system + cisterns for the Health Center.
KENYA -St. John Paul II Ruiri Catholic Health Centre
Job training for women who are poor and or illiterate (sewing machines).
CONGO - Antonieta - Farani Technical and Professional Center
Renovation (roof, electrical, and plumbing) of a school that serves 300 kids.
SENEGAL - Pious Schools Catholic Mission Scalabrian Fathers
Renovation of a rehabilitation center to house 16 disabled children and young adults.
RWANDA - Diocesan Caritas of Ruhengeri
Furniture and equipment for the Street Children's Home for kids ages 2-6 yrs.
TANZANIA - Veritas Childrens Home of St. Josephina Bakhita Church
Scholarships for 160 poor students, some of them suffering from HIV and other illnesses.
INDIA - St Anthony's School
Buy furniture and other equipment for the school serving 662 students between 3 and 15 yrs.
INDIA - St Mary's School
Purchase of 21 dairy buffaloes to be donated to poor families from a village of 200.
INDIA - Christ Light Church
Purchase of furniture and equipment for a multipurpose room for a local poor village
ROMANIA - Franciscans St Joseph Province
Installation of electrical system with solar panels for a Maternity Unit.
HAITI - St Jules Clinic
Microcredit for families (mostly women as head of households) in difficult situations.
ARGENTINA - Open Doors to Work
Scholarships for poor Chilean and Haitian immigrant student who can't afford the cost of rent, books, and room & board.
CHILE - Conventual Franciscans
Completion of retirement home for elderly that will offer daytime care and housing.
COLOMBIA - Citadel of St. Francis of Assisi
Construction of a welcome center for women and at risk kids along with various activities that will help them stay away from local crime families and will mediate disputes.
ECUADOR - Archdiocese Projects
Renovation of a dental clinic room that will serve a village of 210 poor families.
PARAGUAY - Jesus the Merciful Care Center
