The Solanus Mission Association

Father Solanus Guild Reflection by Br. Brenton Ertel, OFM Cap. – November 04, 2025

The Seraphic Mass Association was founded in Lucerne, Switzerland, on October 18, 1899. A Third Order Secular Franciscan named Frieda Folger discovered the need to financially support Capuchin Missionaries around the world. Catholic missionaries lost financial support from governments after the French Revolution. Miss Folger discovered that Masses were offered by Capuchin missionary priests in which they were not taking a stipend. This allowed Capuchin missionaries to offer them as a general intention those who were enrolled in the SMA. Many people could enroll others, and missionaries would have financial support through the enrollments. Thus the beginning of the Seraphic Mass Association.

Fr. Solanus Casey was designated by the general superior in Rome as the official “promoter” of the Seraphic Mass Association. In 1921, he was transferred to the Capuchin parish in Harlem, NY, Our Lady of the Angels. It was in Harlem where he assumed his customary friary role as porter, or the door keeper. When people would meet with him, he took the opportunity to encourage them to participate in the SMA. Fr. Solanus believed that prayer intentions were most efficacious when they were joined to help the Capuchin missions. Fr. Solanus explained the purposes and benefits to someone whose child, Jenny was very ill.

“The members of this Association are asked to prayer for our foreign missions and their work and for one another; those members of course who can pray. Also, those who can afford to do so are asked to help with an offering of some kind besides by prayers and Masses. I am confident that this will help your Jenny. This especially if you and yours do your part.” [1]

Fr. Solanus would offer counsel to those who came to him with their concerns, but he would, also, admonish them to share in those graces of the SMA by carrying out a work of mercy. I serve in the Solanus Mission Association which was formerly, known has the Seraphic Mass Association. It is a popular way for many people to give a spiritual gift to someone in need of healing, or to a family who has lost a loved one. The gift joins the hundreds and thousands of people together in prayer. Capuchin friars remember those enrolled in their prayers and Masses and all the enrollees, as well as those who make an offering by enrolling others, are invited to join the prayer community. An enrollment in the Solanus Mission Association is a way to link a person into a prayer chain of the many who implore God. Yes, those who are enrolled share in the spiritual fruit of the Capuchins’ prayers, masses, and missionary work, but those who make the offering are called to pray too. Fr. Solanus would encourage prayer by inviting people to make an enrollment, thus hoping for spiritual fruit to blossom. It wasn’t simply a need for answered prayer, but a summons to share in God’s grace.

For Fr. Solanus, we are no mere spectators in the economy of grace, but active participants who test our faith in God with prayer. The enrollment, and consequent offering, is only the beginning of the prayer intention. The SMA propels a cycle of grace and spiritual fruit among all those involved. I consider it a true honor to serve in the Solanus Mission Association, not only to carry-on the legacy of Fr. Solanus, but to carry on the pastoral responsibility to bring those many intentions to my prayer life. I am truly humbled by all those who entrust the Capuchin friars with their spiritual needs. Deo Gratias.

[1] Michael H. Crosby, OFM, Cap., Thank God Ahead of Time (Cincinnati, OH: Franciscan Media, 2009), 76.