Father Francis J. Gasparik, O.F.M.Cap.

Director of the Capuchin Mission and Development Office
Mission Secretary of the Province of St. Mary of the Capuchin Order

The Reverend Francis J. Gasparik, O.F.M.Cap. is a New York City born and bred individual who has been living and serving the community in Midtown Manhattan for the past eighteen years. A graduate of St. John’s University and the Maryknoll School of Theology, Father Francis entered the Province of St. Mary of the Capuchin Order on August 31, 1979 and was ordained a priest on May 31, 1986 by the late Most Reverend Francis J. Mugavero, then Bishop of Brooklyn.

From his diverse background as child care worker, prison chaplain, hospital chaplain, youth minister, educator and recruiter, Father Francis brought these experiences to bear upon his work at the Church of St. John the Baptist. From 1991 to 2002, the Church of St. John the Baptist was revitalized and became a familiar name in the residential and corporate community for helping people of all backgrounds. Most notably is the Bread of Life Food Pantry whose services were restructured, relocated and computereized so that today it serves a half million meals a year with social services. In the last five years as director of the Mission Development Office of the Province of St. Mary, he expanded operations and created the network association of feeding and social service programs called Capuchin Food Pantries.

For the past twelve years, Father Francis has served as a member of the governing board for the Capuchin Province of St. Mary in the areas of property, finance, investments, fleet management and policy making. He is a board member of Sacred Heart High School, Yonkers, NY. Internationally, he served on the Fundraising Committee of the General Minister of the Capuchin Order and currently serves as a member of the International Commission for Economic Solidarity which responds to the needs of the poor throughout the 103 countries where Capuchins are located and The Financial Committee for the Economic and Cultural Institutions of the Order. In the Archdiocese of New York, he is a member of the Archdiocesan Realignment Advisory Panel after serving on the Priests’ Council under their Eminences Cardinals O’Connor and Egan in the areas of Priests’ Compensation, Priests’ Retirement, and outreach to the Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual and Transgendered community.