Friar Richard Riccioli, OFM Conv
Director / friarrick@franciscorps.org
Friar Rick was born in Montréal, Québec and raised in the city’s south shore suburb of Brossard. He professed his vows as a Franciscan Friar in 1983 and was ordained a priest in 1990. The ministries in which he was served include: vocation director, formation director, magazine editor and parish priest. He has also been part of the Friar’s leadership council in Canada. Friar Rick’s education includes a Master of Divinity degree from the Washington Theological Union in Washington, DC and a Master of Science degree in Pastoral Counseling from Loyola University in Maryland. He is a National Certified Counselor.
Friar Rick has been on the board of directors of various not-for-profit organizations in Toronto, Ontario serving homeless women, creating opportunities for independent living for people with disabilities and providing specialized addiction services for people with HIV. He has also taught Pastoral Counseling at the Toronto School of Theology in the University of Toronto.
Jordan Differding
Assistant Director / jordan@franciscorps.org
Jordan hails from a small farming community of Minneota, Minnesota. He is a 2010 graduate of The College of St. Benedict and St. John's University in Minnesota. Here he obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Communication with a minor in Spanish. At CSB/SJU he was leading the campus activities board, participating in mission trips to Guatemala and Peru, creating delicious concoctions at the coffee shop and serving and setting up fellow teammates on the volleyball court. This past year Jordan was a volunteer for our very own FrancisCorps: Costa Rica. Here he spent a wonderful and life changing year at Centro Nacional de Educación Especial Fernanado Centeno Güell, a school for the blind, the deaf, and the mentally handicapped. From finger painting, testing his Costa Rican cooking skills, bettering his Spanish as well as learning sign language, he was able to integrate himself into a wonderful community of students, teachers and parents while living the Franciscan way of life. Jordan is excited and enthusiastic to join the FrancisCorps team for another year. He will assist with all office operations and recruitment efforts.
Sr. Caryn Crook, OSF
Co-Minister – Syracuse
Sister Caryn was born and raised in Fulton, NY, a small town north of Syracuse, NY known for Nestles Chocolate and lake effect snow. She attended Keystone Jr. College in Pennsylvania where she received an Associates Degree in Liberal Arts from Keystone Jr. College. After Keystone, she attended the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry adjacent to Syracuse University where she received a Bachelors Degree in Forest Biology. After graduating, she entered the Peace Corps and worked in Central African Republic for two years teaching farmers how to raise tilapia in ponds. After she completed her term, she was employed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service working on a program called Partners for Fish and Wildlife and was responsible for restoring wildlife habitat on private property, mostly restored wetland habitat. She also had the opportunity to restore
grassland habitat, streams, and endangered species habitat. Sister Caryn loved her career, but felt called to something different. She entered the Sisters of St. Francis in 2005. Currently she ministers at the Spirituality and Nature Center at Alverna Heights in Fayetteville, NY. where she is the Franciscan ecology coordinator and gives presentations on Care for creation. She is also an Action Commissioner with Franciscan Action Network advocating for peace and justice, human rights and immigration, and care for creation.
Fray Jorge Dobles, OFM Conv.
Co-Minister – Costa Rica
Fray Jorge is a native of Costa Rica and a graduate of our St. Francis School in Moravia, Costa Rica where he now teaches and assists in the Religion Department. He has been a novice director, spriritual director and parish priest. He is the Guardian of the Friary in Moravia and currently is a member of the Provincial Council of the Conventual Franciscans of Immaculate Conception Province. He is a talented artist and also loves to sing.
Friar Brad Milunski, OFM Conv.
Co-Minister – Syracuse
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"Preach the Gospel. If necessary use words." - St. Francis of Assisi