A Space for Silence
Settled amidst the urban hustle of northern Milwaukee’s “Brewer’s Hill” neighborhood, the new Capuchin Spiritual Center at St. Francis (CSC) plans to offer its neighbors a spiritual haven — a sacred space for visitors to rest, reflect, and grow. Whether it's reconciliation, healing, fellowship, or simply silent space to spend with the Lord, the Capuchin Friars hope visitors will find the CSC home.
Settled adjacent to St. Francis of Assisi Parish, the CSC will join a storied tradition of offering service and hospitality to its surrounding neighbors since the 1800s. From the assistance the Friars offered German immigrants in the 1860s who were pushed to settle in the north edge of the city, to the first Spanish Mass celebrated in 1963, to the Civil Rights activism they took part in in the 1960s, the Capuchins have served as a stalwart presence of peace and relief in a neighborhood with constantly shifting needs.
Today, the needs of the neighborhood continue to evolve, and the CSC is the fruit of deep discernment within the province to respond to those needs.
“The brothers recognized that while we remain committed to works of mercy—feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, serving the poor—we are also called to strengthen the spiritual life of our communities,” explains Br. José Maria Vera, OFM Cap., the Director of the CSC. “In today’s increasingly secular society, there is a real longing for spaces of silence, sacramental life, spiritual direction, and renewal.”
With this in mind, the CSC plans to offer a myriad of ministries that will offer visitors a deeper encounter with Christ including: one-day retreats, daily reconciliation, seasonal talks, Taizé services, Eucharistic Adoration with Vespers, Blessing of the Sick, spiritual direction, and a young adult ministry.
The center opened in September 2025 with the first talk in a series, “Spirituality with a Cappuccino” given by Fr. Larry Webber. Br. Jose feels very hopeful about the future of the center: “Our hope is that it becomes a place of encounter, a space where people can draw closer to God, reflect deeply on their own lives, and experience the strength of a supportive community. We envision the center as a welcoming and prayerful environment where lay people, clergy, and religious can find spiritual renewal,” explains Brother José. “In a broader sense, the center hopes to enrich the faith life of the entire region. It will serve as a pilgrimage site, sharing the story of the Capuchin presence in Milwaukee and the example of Blessed Solanus Casey, while extending the Province’s mission of evangelization. At its ethos, this ministry is about hope, hope that the center will help people strengthen their relationship with God, deepen their spiritual lives, and go forth renewed in faith to serve God and others.”
