
The Franciscan Friars of the Atonement is a Roman Catholic religious community with social, ecumenical, and pastoral ministries in the United States, Canada, England, Italy, Japan, and the Philippines. The Friars were founded by Servant of God Father Paul Wattson, SA, in 1898, with the mission of reconciliation through atonement—the unity of men and women with God and with one another. Inspired by St. Francis of Assisi, the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement are dedicated to bringing reconciliation and healing to a broken world by living, embracing, and fostering the Franciscan spirit of At-One-Ment.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Founder | Father Paul Wattson |
| Headquarters | Graymoor, Garrison, New York |
| Type of Community | Catholic Religious Community |
| Year of Inception | 1898 |
| Mission | Reconciliation through atonement—the unity of men and women with God and with one another |
| Motto | "All for Christ and the Salvation of Men" |
| Ministries | St. Christopher's Inn, Do Not Fear to Hope HIV+/AIDS Support Group, the Graymoor Spiritual Life Center, and various ecumenical centers and parish ministries |
| Areas of Operation | United States, Canada, England, Italy, Japan, Brazil, and the Philippines |
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What You'll Learn
- The Franciscan Friars of the Atonement are a Catholic religious community
- They are headquartered at Graymoor in Garrison, New York
- The Friars are devoted to ecumenism and seek to promote dialogue within Christianity and between religions
- The Friars run St. Christopher's Inn, a ministry that helps people with drug addiction and HIV/AIDS support groups
- The Friars' founder, Fr. Paul Wattson, was inspired by St. Francis of Assisi and the Franciscan spirit of At-One-Ment

The Franciscan Friars of the Atonement are a Catholic religious community
Headquartered at Graymoor in Garrison, New York, the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement have social, ecumenical, and pastoral ministries in the United States, Canada, England, Italy, Japan, and the Philippines. They are dedicated to bringing reconciliation and healing to a broken world by living, embracing, and fostering the Franciscan spirit of "At-One-Ment"—unity with self, others, and God. This mission is reflected in their motto: "All for Christ and the Salvation of Men."
The Franciscan Friars of the Atonement operate parishes, retreat and reconciliation ministries, chaplaincies, and direct service to the poor. They also sponsor the Graymoor Ecumenical & Interreligious Institute, which publishes a monthly newsletter called Ecumenical Trends. Additionally, they have established ministries like St. Christopher's Inn, a Do Not Fear to Hope HIV+/AIDS Support Group, and the Graymoor Spiritual Life Center.
The Franciscan Friars of the Atonement are known for their zeal for simplicity and community life. They eat together, work together, and pray together with those who come to them, offering hospitality and a place of healing. Their founder, Father Paul, is remembered for his generosity and dedication to those who were lost and in need of God's healing.
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They are headquartered at Graymoor in Garrison, New York
The Franciscan Friars of the Atonement are headquartered at Graymoor in Garrison, New York. The Friars are a Catholic religious community inspired by St. Francis of Assisi. They were founded by Fr. Paul Wattson, SA, also known as Father Paul of Graymoor, over a century ago in 1898.
The Friars are dedicated to bringing reconciliation and healing to a broken world through the Franciscan spirit of "At-One-Ment"—one with self, one with others, and one with God. They have ministries like St. Christopher's Inn, Do Not Fear to Hope HIV+/AIDS Support Group, the Graymoor Spiritual Life Center, and various ecumenical centres and parish ministries throughout the United States, Canada, England, Italy, Japan, and the Philippines.
The Graymoor Spiritual Union offers enrollment cards and spiritual greeting cards or religious items. The Friars also sponsor the Graymoor Ecumenical & Interreligious Institute, which has offices in the Interchurch Center in New York and publishes a monthly newsletter called Ecumenical Trends.
The Franciscan Friars of the Atonement are a community filled with zeal for simplicity and life together. They eat together, work together, and pray together with those who come to them, treating them as brothers. They believe that the basis for healing is a simple life of dignity and respect, and simple hospitality.
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The Friars are devoted to ecumenism and seek to promote dialogue within Christianity and between religions
The Franciscan Friars of the Atonement are a Catholic religious community with social, ecumenical, and pastoral ministries in the United States, Canada, England, Italy, Japan, Brazil, and the Philippines. The Friars are devoted to ecumenism and actively engage in interfaith dialogue, seeking to promote understanding and cooperation among individuals and communities of different religious backgrounds. They believe in the fundamental unity of humanity and aim to transcend theological differences to foster a spirit of unity.
The Friars' commitment to ecumenism and interfaith dialogue is evident in their establishment of the Graymoor Ecumenical & Interreligious Institute (GEII), which serves the Roman Catholic Church in its mission of Christian unity and interreligious dialogue. GEII publishes a monthly newsletter called Ecumenical Trends, featuring exclusive interviews with leaders in the fields of ecumenism and interreligious dialogue. Additionally, the Friars founded the Centro Pro Unione, an ecumenical research and action center in Rome, Italy, which provides space for dialogue, study, research, and formation in ecumenism.
The Friars actively collaborate with representatives of various Christian denominations and faith traditions, fostering relationships based on shared values and a common desire for unity. They engage in joint projects and initiatives, such as the Church Unity Octave, which was inaugurated by Father Paul Wattson and Mother Lurana White to pray for unity among Christians. The Friars also work with social service organizations, advocacy groups, and healthcare providers to address the needs of marginalized and vulnerable populations.
Through their diverse ministries, such as St. Christopher's Inn, Do Not Fear to Hope HIV+/AIDS Support Group, and the Graymoor Spiritual Life Center, the Friars fulfill their sacred mission of healing divisions and bringing hope and compassion to those in need. Their collaborative efforts and partnerships extend their impact and create a more inclusive and compassionate world, reflecting their belief in the transformative power of faith and the potential for positive change.
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The Friars run St. Christopher's Inn, a ministry that helps people with drug addiction and HIV/AIDS support groups
The Franciscan Friars of the Atonement are a Catholic religious community with social, ecumenical, and pastoral ministries in the United States, Canada, England, Italy, Japan, Brazil, and the Philippines. The Friars are headquartered at Graymoor in Garrison, New York, and were founded in 1898 by Servant of God Father Paul Wattson, SA.
St. Christopher's Inn is a ministry of the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement, located in Garrison, New York. The Inn is a Christ-centered alcohol and drug addiction treatment center for adult men. Their programs include detoxification, medication-assisted treatment, residential and outpatient treatment, transitional housing, and aftercare support, including specialized services for clients with co-occurring conditions. The Franciscan Friars of the Atonement integrate professional and compassionate treatment with Franciscan hospitality to provide physical, emotional, and spiritual healing to men struggling with addiction. The recovery program can treat up to 118 clients, known as "Brother Christophers." The program incorporates spirituality into the recovery process through prayer, meditation, and mass.
The Inn also provides inpatient rehab and detox services, with medical supervision and medication to support individuals with severe addiction in comfortably detoxifying and removing substances from their bodies. The facility work is considered a "crucial part of recovery" by the staff. Clients at St. Christopher's Inn are compelled to attend 12-step meetings, Alcoholics Anonymous/Narcotics Anonymous, and may be punished for refusal to attend. The facility also offers a GED program and telehealth appointments.
The Friars' ministry extends beyond addiction treatment, as they also run the Do Not Fear to Hope HIV+/AIDS Support Group, the Graymoor Spiritual Life Center, and various ecumenical centers and parish ministries worldwide. The Franciscan Friars of the Atonement are dedicated to bringing reconciliation and healing to a broken world, embracing the Franciscan spirit of "At-One-Ment"—one with self, one with others, and one with God.
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The Friars' founder, Fr. Paul Wattson, was inspired by St. Francis of Assisi and the Franciscan spirit of At-One-Ment
The Franciscan Friars of the Atonement is a Catholic religious community that was founded by Fr. Paul Wattson, SA, in 1898. Fr. Paul was inspired by St. Francis of Assisi and the Franciscan spirit of "At-One-Ment", which refers to unity or oneness with God and with one another.
Fr. Paul Wattson was born Lewis Thomas Wattson in 1863 during the American Civil War. His father, Joseph Newton Wattson, was a Presbyterian who converted to the Episcopal Church, and his mother, Mary Electa, was a twice-widowed woman. Fr. Paul spent time at the Anglican Monastery of the Order of the Holy Cross in Westminster, Missouri, to gain experience in religious life within a community. He also joined the Associate Mission, a group of unmarried Episcopal clergymen living a semi-monastic life in Omaha, Nebraska.
In 1898, Fr. Paul met with Mother Lurana White (formerly Louisa Benedicta White) at her family home in Warwick, New York, and they made a spiritual covenant to form a new religious community within the Episcopal Church. They sought to re-establish Franciscan life in the Anglican Communion and unite the Anglican and Catholic Churches under the Bishop of Rome. The name "The Society of the Atonement" was inspired by Romans 5:11, which speaks of the "atonement" Christians have received through Jesus.
Fr. Paul and Mother Lurana founded the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement, a Roman Catholic religious community with social, ecumenical, and pastoral ministries. The Friars are dedicated to bringing reconciliation and healing to a broken world by living, embracing, and fostering the Franciscan spirit of "At-One-Ment". They seek to walk alongside those who are lost and in need of God's healing, serving people of all races, religions, and walks of life. The Friars have ministries and parishes worldwide, including in the United States, Canada, England, Italy, Japan, Brazil, and the Philippines.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement are a Roman Catholic religious community.
The Friars are dedicated to bringing reconciliation and healing to a broken world by living, embracing and fostering the Franciscan spirit of "At-One-Ment", or unity with God and with one another.
The Franciscan Friars of the Atonement have several ministries around the world, including St. Christopher's Inn, the Do Not Fear to Hope HIV+/AIDS Support Group, and the Graymoor Spiritual Life Center. They also sponsor the Graymoor Ecumenical & Interreligious Institute, which publishes a monthly newsletter called Ecumenical Trends.
The Franciscan Friars of the Atonement were founded by Servant of God Father Paul Wattson, SA, in 1898.
The motto of the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement is "All for Christ and the Salvation of Men."









































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