The administration of the fund is examined twice a year by a group of three friars from the General Curia of the Friars Minor. The fund is maintained independently from the regular administration of income and expediture of the Office Pro Monialibus. The resources of the fund are employed to offer assistance in the case of specific needs such as hospitalization, operations, psycholocial consultations and treatment, as well as in ermergency situations such as warfare and in other individual cases of need. The fund is still small, and so the help we are able to offer is not great. We are not at present in a position to assist all who ask for help.

Since the primary purpose of the Office Pro Monialibus is to assist the nuns spiritually and personally, it cannot be regarded as a fundraising body for the building and restructuring of monasteries. Other institutions in the Church serve that purpose.But the personal predicament of a sister who is ill, suffering pain or in want is a challenge which involves the Office Pro Monialibus even on the spiritual plane, and which the Office tries to meet to the extent that the resources put at its diposal allow.

As abbess of her monastery, Saint Clare commands her sisters to inquire diligently what are the needs of the sisters who are ill, both by way of counsel as well as food and oher necessities (cf.Rule, 8,12). That such sisters be cared for lovingly and mercifully is very important to her (cf.Rule 8,13).

Saint Francis was most sensitive towards the sisters who were sick. In the Canticle of Exhortation written for Saint Clare and her Sisters ("Audite Poverelle", 5) he writes: "Those who are weighed down by sickness an the others who are wearied because of them, all of you: bear it in peace." Francis stresses the fact that all have been bought at a "very high price" - that is, by the death and the resurrection of Christ.

The contributions of the sisters and the friars for the sisters who are sick, or suffer, or are in need, is a "very high price", through which they will receive a great reward, since they will be crowned in heaven with the Virgin Mary (cf."Audite Poverelle", 6).

I thank you in the name of the sisters who will benefit from your assistance.

The account of the Fund is administered in Rome (Italy) by the treasurer of our Order of Friars Minor.

In sending donations to the Fund, please be careful to write as follows:
At the "Istituto per le Opere di Religione", Città del Vaticano
Numero del Conto: 27 505 005 EURO
Numero del conto: 27 505 011 Dollari USA

If you choose tyo send the money by Bank Transfers, once the operation has been carried out at your bank, please fax a copy of the bank receipt and a note to the Officium Pro Monialibus at fax number +39 066380292. Specify on the Bank Transfer that this is: A donation to the solidarity Fund Pro Monialibus (FFI)

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You may instead, if you wish, simply send a cheque (not a postal order) to the Office Pro Monialibus in Rome, made payable to Fr. Herbert Schneider.