Our Mission
Mission Statement
The Francis Institute exists to promote renewal in the Church by promoting the four pillars inspired by the life of St. Francis: making disciples, preaching the Gospel, building community, and serving the poor. We seek to connect parishes, communities, and organizations with one another and with the universal Church through the critical work of missionaries.
“We have been called to heal wounds, to unite what has fallen apart, and to bring home those who have lost their way.”
— St. Francis of Assisi
‘Rebuild My Church’
These are the words that Jesus spoke to St. Francis of Assisi in 1205 as he prayed in the rundown chapel of San Damiano. At first, St. Francis thought that Jesus was speaking about the chapel he was praying in, and so he obediently tried to repair it. But over time, St. Francis realized that the Lord wasn’t asking him to rebuild a physical church building. God was entrusting him with the great task of rebuilding the faith of the Catholic Church: the entire People of God! St. Francis faithfully lived out this call the Lord placed upon his life and brought Christ’s light to a dark world.
Today, just as it was in the time of St. Francis, the Catholic Church is in need of reformation and renewal. The Church is in need of a People of God living in the world but set apart from the world. In the footsteps of our patron, St. Francis, the words commanded to him, “Rebuild My Church,” resound through the centuries with a renewed sense of urgency in our day. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit has been so profound that it beckons us to lay aside concern for our own welfare and lives, abandoning ourselves completely to the Providence of the Father and taking up with our Lord Jesus the work of renewing His Church.
OUR FOUNDERS
Robert and Tami Erisman and their family serve with other full-time missionaries — singles and families — in the Amazon region of Peru (Picota, San Martin). They live among the poor whom they serve, which enables them to build relationships and community naturally.
The Francis Institute demonstrates love of God and neighbor in a variety of ways, including:
Helping with basic human needs of food, medicine, and housing
Assisting with the start-up costs for small family businesses to provide a sustainable income
Visiting the sick and homebound
Providing adoration, praise and worship, and formation opportunities each week
Aiding in catechist retreats for pueblos, youth, and parish programs
Bringing people to Mass in town
Discipling families and singles as domestic missionaries
“Be mindful of the poor.” - Galatians 2:10
The Francis Institute invites individuals and parishes to assist us in our mission. Your donations can be targeted to one of our priority projects, individual missionaries, food, medical needs, and more.