A Catholic mission founded by Francis of Assisi in 1209 has set up camp in two trendy New York City neighborhoods in a bid to bring God to the large population of hipsters who have moved in.
The Conventual Franciscan friars have converted the Holy Family Slovak Catholic Church into the San Damiano Mission to use as an "evangelizing anchor" for young trendsetters who live in Williamsburg and Greenpoint, two of Brooklyn’s hottest real-estate markets.
The gray-robed friars are helping bring the word of God to "a segment of society that tends to be suspicious of, or oblivious to, organized religion," Catholic News Service (CNS) reports.
"Us being here is more than a ministry of presence," Conventual Franciscan Brother Nicholas Spano told CNS. "We get out of the church, wearing our habits so that it's obvious who we are . . . We're letting them know we're not scary or unapproachable.
The Conventual Fransiscans, officially known as The Order of Friars Minor Conventual, was created to spread the teachings of Saint Francis, the patron saint of Italy, in the Middle Ages. Pope Francis chose his papal name in honor of the beloved religious figure.
© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.