About Our Lady of Guadalupe Friary · Griswold, Connecticut
The Marian Friary of Our Lady of Guadalupe is the Mother House of the North American mission of the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate (F.I.), located on Colonel Brown Road in Griswold, Connecticut. The friars serve the Diocese of Norwich through their common life of prayer, by offering daily Mass, hearing confessions, giving spiritual direction, and assisting at parishes and diocesan events. Since 2001 the friary chapel has been a center of Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, and it also hosts the lay movement MIM (Mission of the Immaculate Mediatrix) and a Third Order community.
- Established
- 2000
- Patron
- Our Lady of Guadalupe
- Rector
- Reverend Jose Maria Barbin, F.I. (Guardian)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Norwich
Why belong here
The Marian Friary of Our Lady of Guadalupe is one of the most prayer-centered Catholic chapels in eastern Connecticut: it offers daily Mass, perpetual Eucharistic Adoration (with the church open 24/7 and exposition ordinarily 4 a.m.–9 p.m.), regular confessions, the full Liturgy of the Hours prayed in common, First Friday and First Saturday devotions, and spiritual direction. Lay faithful are drawn into the Franciscan-Marian charism through the MIM (Mission of the Immaculate Mediatrix) and the Third Order, both meeting monthly on site, and through retreats such as the annual Marian Young Adult Retreat.
Mass times at Our Lady of Guadalupe Friary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 9:00–9:30 AM
- First Friday 10:15 AM
- First Saturday 10:15 AM
- By appointment (call 860-376-6840)
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration (church open 24/7); exposition ordinarily daily 4:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- Holy Hour: Monday–Saturday 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM (Vespers, Rosary & Benediction)
- Holy Hour: Sunday 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (Vespers, Rosary & Benediction)
About the Marian Friary of Our Lady of Guadalupe
The Marian Friary of Our Lady of Guadalupe is the Mother House of the North American mission of the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate, located in Griswold, Connecticut, in the Diocese of Norwich. According to the friary's own description, the friars serve the Church firstly through their common life of prayer and sacrifice, and at the friary they offer Mass, hear confessions, and give spiritual direction. They also assist at parishes, other churches, and diocesan events by request, and engage in the New Media apostolate through AirMaria.com, YouTube, and other websites.
- Mother House of the F.I. North American mission
- Within the Diocese of Norwich
- Daily Mass and the full Liturgy of the Hours prayed in common
- Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration chapel
History of the Friary and Chapel
The site's history begins in 1853, when a Tudor-style church was built by Presbyterians and abandoned in 1869. The local parish of the Immaculate Conception obtained it, and it was consecrated in 1909. A fire damaged it in 1972; local men, given permission to demolish it, found the damage superficial, carefully dismantled the church, and stored the woodwork. With the arrival of the friars, this salvaged wood — together with other benefactions — was used to build the present chapel, which Bishop Daniel Hart consecrated on August 25, 2001.
- 1853: Tudor-style church built by Presbyterians
- 1869: abandoned by Presbyterians
- 1909: consecrated as a Catholic church for Immaculate Conception parish
- 1972: damaged by fire and abandoned
- Local men dismantled and salvaged the woodwork
- August 25, 2001: chapel consecrated by Bishop Hart
- October 28, 2001: chapel became a center of Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration
Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate (F.I.)
The Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate are a Conventual Franciscan reform begun at Frigento, Italy, in 1970 by Fr. Stefano Maria Manelli and Fr. Gabriele Maria Pellettieri, originally called Casa Mariana ("A Marian Home"). Erected by Pope John Paul II in 1990 as a diocesan institute, it was raised to a pontifical institute of religious life on January 1, 1998. Their mission is to live the Franciscan-Marian charism of St. Maximilian Mary Kolbe, with total consecration to the Immaculate Virgin.
- Founded 1970 at Frigento, Italy
- Founded by Fr. Stefano M. Manelli and Fr. Gabriel M. Pellettieri
- Erected as diocesan institute 1990; pontifical institute January 1, 1998
- Modeled on St. Maximilian Mary Kolbe and Niepokalanow
Beginnings of the F.I. in the United States
The North American mission of the Franciscans of the Immaculate began in December 1990, when the first friars arrived and took a small room at Holy Apostle Seminary in Cromwell, CT. They moved to a rented house nearby in 1991, where the first vocations were attracted, and in 1992 to a larger house in Baltic, CT, given by the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady, Mother of the Church.
- December 1990: friars arrive at Holy Apostle Seminary, Cromwell, CT
- 1991: rented house near the seminary
- 1992: larger house in Baltic, CT (gift of the Sisters of Charity)
- 1998: construction begins in Griswold on land donated by Eileen Brown
- August 19, 2000: friars move from Baltic to Griswold
- August 25, 2001: chapel consecrated by Bishop Daniel Hart
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office)
The friars pray the full Liturgy of the Hours in common each day. Public visitors may join them as scheduled.
- Office of Readings: Mon–Sat 5:10 AM; Sun 5:55 AM
- Morning Prayer: Mon–Sat 6:00 AM; Sun 6:10 AM
- Midday Prayer: Mon–Sat 1:20 PM; Sun 1:00 PM
- Evening Prayer: Mon–Sat 4:30 PM; Sun 6:00 PM
- Night Prayer: Mon–Sat 8:35 PM; Sun 8:25 PM
First Friday & First Saturday Devotions
A monthly devotional gathering centered on the Sacred Heart (First Friday) and the Immaculate Heart of Mary (First Saturday), following the classic Catholic practice popularized by the apparitions at Fatima.
- 10:15 AM — Confession
- 10:30 AM — Holy Rosary
- 11:00 AM — Holy Mass
MIM Sunday — Mission of the Immaculate Mediatrix
The Mission of the Immaculate Mediatrix (MIM) is a Roman Catholic public association of the faithful that allows lay men and women to share in the Marian-Franciscan charism of the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate. Meetings are held at the Griswold friary on the last Sunday of each month, from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM; visitors, members, and the merely curious are all welcome. Meetings are subject to change, so the friars recommend calling ahead.
- 9:00 AM — Rosary and Confessions
- 9:30 AM — Holy Mass, Rosary, & Confessions
- 12:00 PM — Lunch (bag lunch)
- 12:45 PM — Formation classes
- 1:45 PM — Business meeting
- 2:45 PM — Chaplet of Divine Mercy & Benediction
- 3:10 PM — Formation classes
- 4:10 PM — Vespers (Evening Prayer)
Third Order of the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate
The Third Order community also gathers at the Griswold friary, alongside the MIM meetings on the last Sunday of each month, allowing lay faithful to formally commit to the F.I. charism in their daily state of life.
- Meets last Sunday of each month, 12:45 PM–4:00 PM (per diocese directory)
Apostolate and Outreach
The friars serve the wider Church in the Diocese of Norwich by celebrating Mass, hearing confessions, and preaching at parishes and diocesan events on request. Following the encouragement of the Church, they also engage in a New Media apostolate — publishing homilies, conferences, and other videos on AirMaria.com, YouTube, and other websites, and posting regular updates on their Facebook page. They hosted their first Marian Young Adult Retreat at the Griswold friary on August 10, 2024, for ages 18–39.
- Parish and diocesan assistance by request (Mass, confessions, retreats)
- New Media: AirMaria.com, YouTube, Facebook (@figriswold)
- Marian Young Adult Retreat (annual, ages 18–39)
- Spiritual direction available
Friars at the Griswold Friary
The current community at Griswold, as listed by the Diocese of Norwich directory, is led by the Guardian, Rev. Jose Maria Barbin, F.I., who also serves as the U.S. Vocations Director for the F.I. and is the author of 'Beloved Disciple: Living Out Your Marian Consecration Daily.' He is a frequent speaker and contributor to Missio Immaculatae magazine.
- Rev. Jose Maria Barbin, F.I. — Guardian; U.S. Vocations Director
- Rev. Bonaventure McGuire, F.I.
- Rev. Dominic Savio Mary Murphy, F.I.
- Bro. Jude McFeeley, F.I.
- Bro. Paschal Mary Gilbert, F.I.
Contact and Location
The friary sits on Colonel Brown Road in Griswold, Connecticut, and is reached by appointment for confession, spiritual direction, or events. The official website is figuadalupe.com (an older WordPress mirror at figuadalupe.wordpress.com now redirects visitors to the new site).
- Address: 199 Colonel Brown Road, Griswold, CT 06351
- Phone: 860-376-6840
- Website: https://figuadalupe.com/
- Facebook: facebook.com/figriswold
- GPS: 41.560878, -71.927602