Mission headquarters of the Franciscans

Franciscan Mission Center ; (MZF)
legal form	registered association
founding	1969
Seat	Bonn ( ⊙ coordinates: 50 ° 40 ′ 22 ″ N , 7 ° 9 ′ 59.8 ″ E )
main emphasis	Poverty reduction
Chair	Matthias Maier
sales	15,871,272 euros (2019)
Employees	28 (2019)
Website	mzf.org

The Mission Center of the Franciscans ( MZF ) is the internationally active aid organization of the Franciscan Order (ordo fratrum minorum - ofm) based in Bonn-Bad Godesberg. Its activities focus on the promotion of humanitarian, social and pastoral projects as well as educational, awareness-raising and human rights work.

The registered association is recognized as a non-profit organization and certified as worthy of donation by the German Central Institute for Social Issues . She works closely with other aid organizations of the Franciscan Family, namely with the Mission Association of the Swiss Franciscans in Zurich, Franz Hilf - Franziskaner for People in Need in Vienna, Franciscus Helpt in 's-Hertogenbosch and the Franciscan Mission in Munich . It also cooperates with Franciscan institutions such as Franciscans International in Geneva as well as international and German aid agencies .

The organization is supported by the Franciscan provinces in Belgium, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Austria, Romania, Switzerland and Hungary. Associate members are various Franciscan provinces in Bolivia, Brazil, West Africa, the Congo and South Africa as well as in Indonesia, India, Pakistan and Vietnam. The President of the Mission Center is Father Matthias Maier OFM.

history

The Second Vatican Council (1962–1965) laid the foundation for a renewal of the Catholic Church that was open to people and encouraged the various orders to reflect on their roots and origins.

The invitation and the spirit of optimism at that time inspired the German Franciscans to found an aid organization in 1969, which, in the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi (13th century), cares for the poor and marginalized and takes sides with them. The founding managing director was Father Andreas Müller ofm , who had a lasting impact on the association and led it until 2002.

Over the course of three decades, the association has developed into an aid organization that promotes projects by Franciscans active around the world: in Africa, Asia / Oceania, Latin America as well as in Central and Eastern Europe.

Enlightenment and educational work for peace and justice in one world has been a focus of work from the start. In 1999 the Mission Center launched its volunteer program. It enables young adults to participate in local aid projects. Since 2009 it has offered educational and meeting trips as a contribution to the dialogue between cultures and religions.

In 2003 the association initiated the Bank for Orders and Missions. The usual bank profits are reinvested in development projects.

In doing so, the aid agency continued the centuries-old Franciscan tradition of advocating responsible use of money. As early as the 15th century, the Franciscans had founded lending institutions (“Montes pietatis”) in major Italian cities, which granted the poor and the needy small loans against a pledge . In doing so, they created an alternative to the profit-oriented lending system with exorbitantly high interest rates that was prevalent at the time. Following the model of the Montes pietatis ("Mountains of Mercy"), the municipal savings banks run under local self-government developed in Germany in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Head, Chairperson or President:

1969–2002: P. Andreas Müller, OFM
2002–2010: P. Stephan Ottenbreit OFM
2010–2016: Fr Claudius Groß, OFM
since September 1, 2016: P. Matthias Maier OFM

Principles

The association works according to the principles of St. Francis to live the Gospel in solidarity with the poor and to preserve nature / creation. It is also committed to the principle of the priority option for the poor : to provide concrete help to the needy and marginalized, to give them a voice and to promote political, economic and social change.

Fields of work

The organization is active in three areas: project work, awareness raising and advocacy for the poor. It is also increasingly committed to the preservation of nature and creation, the ruthless exploitation of which is associated with human rights violations and displacement.

Project work

With the help of donations, the association supports around 700 projects in 78 countries every year. These are mainly carried out by Franciscans according to the following criteria:

They must have been initiated by those concerned themselves,
be socially sustainable and ecologically oriented
and help people to help themselves.

The aid projects focus on the areas of social development, education, human rights, the environment and the church. In total, more than 220,000 Franciscans are on duty in around 110 countries to live and work with those in need.

awareness raising

The association organizes seminars and issues publications that deal with questions about the One World, human rights, theology and spirituality of the universal Church, intercultural and interreligious dialogue as well as solidarity and peace work. She also organizes meeting and study trips and sends young adults to her projects, where they actively support the work of the Franciscan family for a year.

Advocacy for the poor

The charity sees itself as an advocate for the poor and marginalized, who wants to exert a targeted influence on political, economic and social conditions. It supports initiatives that denounce poverty and oppression, and it interferes wherever the dignity of people is threatened and where solidarity and fairness are required.

financing

The association is financed through donations and grants (see annual reports). The sponsors have various options to help people in need. In addition to monetary and material donations, the MZF manages trust and name foundations through which the founder can guarantee his social commitment even after death.

Web links

Individual evidence

[1] ttp://www.dzi.de/spenderberatung/datenbanksuchmaske/suchverbindungen/?11388

[2] Sponsorship

[3] Project overview

[4] Voluntary Service

[5] Encounter journeys

[6] Bank for Orders and Missions

[7] For a fair use of money (PDF)

[8] Numbers and facts

[9] History of the MZF

[10] Quarterly Green Series

[11] Annual reports

[12] Name foundation