Headquartered at Graymoor, in Garrison, New York, the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement are a Roman Catholic religious community of priests and brothers with social, ecumenical and pastoral ministries in Unites States, Canada, England, Italy and Japan. Since being founded 120 years ago in 1898 by Fr. Paul Wattson, SA, the Friars have worked for reconciliation and healing through “at-one-ment” – the unity of men and women with God and one another.
It is our Mission as a Catholic religious community to invite the world to join us in the quest for healing and reconciliation. We do this by living, embracing and fostering the Franciscan spirit of At-One-Ment which includes the unity of all; and the healing of the broken and those who have lost their way.
As Franciscans, we go where there is need and work to meet that need. Through our Mission and ministries we serve people of every race, religion and walk of life. Our social ministries help the poor, the homeless, the hungry, immigrants and indigent people in need of clothing, food, shelter and basic human compassion. We work in the United Nations, colleges, hospitals, hospices, prisons, rehab centers and more. In 1988, at the height of the AIDS epidemic, we opened our hearts and our friary doors to offer a place for respite when no others would welcome the inflicted. Our award-winning program “Do Not Fear To Hope” still operates at Graymoor today, and this year celebrated its 31st year.
Perhaps we are best known for our services for those with addictions. Through the years we have provided recovery services for men, women and families through multiple treatment facilities including New Hope Manor for women (now an independent organization) and St. Joseph’s Rehab Center (also now an independent organization) and St. Christopher’s Inn at Graymoor for men. Each year, St. Christopher’s provides treatment services to more than 1,000 “Brothers Christopher.” In 2019, St. Christopher’s Inn celebrated 100 years of service.
Our ecumenical work makes us leaders in the international movement to heal the divisions within Christianity and among all faiths. Our friars work at the United Nations, in Catholic welfare agencies and in colleges to promote understanding of other views and to encourage the dialogues that will lead the world’s path towards peace and unity. We firmly believe that without dialogue, there can be neither peace nor unity. This year, our ecumenical newsletter Ecumenical Trends as well as on of our Friars, Fr. Elias Mallon, SA both received awards from the Catholic News Service for leadership in ecumenism.
Through our Ministry of Prayer that touches several hundred thousand each year and pastoral work in parishes, community centers and our own “Graymoor Spiritual Life Center”, the Friars work diligently through both secular and religious programs to carry the Gospel message and bring spiritual peace, renewal, unity, harmony and reconciliation to individuals and communities where there is division and conflict. Our Graymoor Spiritual Life Center provides a wide array of programs for seniors, high school students, and women, as well as recovery retreats and a variety of daily recovery meetings. In 2020, it will celebrate 50 years of being a “welcoming haven” for those in need of spiritual renewal.