The Province of St. Barbara has its headquarters in Oakland, California. Franciscans from our province live and serve in places that cross ethnic, cultural and economic boundaries throughout California, as well as in the states of Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Missouri, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico. We also serve in missions in El Salvador, Brazil, Thailand, Israel, Guatemala, northern Mexico, Italy, the Philippines, Peru and Africa, and continue to minister among the Native American peoples of the Southwest.

The brothers follow Jesus Christ who humbled himself, becoming obedient to death. Faithful to their calling as lesser brothers, they go through the world in joy and gladness, as servants and subjects of all, as men of peace and with humble hearts. (GC, 64)

The brothers are pilgrims and strangers in this world. They give up personal ownership and hold on to nothing as their own, neither house nor a place nor anything else, according to the Rule. They devote themselves and whatever they have for their life and work to the service of the Church and the world in poverty and humility. (GC, 72.1)