Ave Maria!
Two Conventional Franciscans, Rev. Stefano Maria Manelli and Rev. Gabrielle Maria Pelletieri, founded the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate. Together they designed a form of Franciscan community life after the example of Saint Maximilian Kolbe, giving the fullest expression to the Marian dimension of St. Francis' ideal and Rule.
The Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate was established by Pope John Paul II in 1990 and recognized in 1998 as a pontifical institute of religious life.
In the spirit of St. Maximilian the hope and purpose of the Friars is to bring all souls "through the Immaculate to the Heart of Jesus for the greatest possible glory of God".