About The Franciscan Place Chapel (at Destiny USA Mall) · Syracuse, New York
The Franciscan Place (TFP) is a Catholic chapel and religious gift shop tucked into the lower level of Destiny USA mall (formerly the Carousel Center) in Syracuse, New York. It is a ministry of Assumption Church, staffed by Conventual Franciscan Friars (OFM Conv.) of Our Lady of Angels Province, and offers weekday Mass, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, and Eucharistic Adoration in a setting designed to bring the Gospel into the marketplace, following the example of St. Francis of Assisi. Founded in October 1999, the chapel was created to give mall visitors, employees, and Central New Yorkers an accessible, prayerful place to encounter God in the midst of daily life, and pairs its sacramental ministry with a gift shop selling rosaries, statues, first Communion items, and handcrafted goods made by religious communities.
- Established
- 1999
- Patron
- St. Francis of Assisi (the chapel follows his example of evangelizing in the marketplace)
- Rector
- Brother Jim Moore, OFM Conv. (Director of The Franciscan Place). The chapel is a ministry of Assumption Church, whose current Rector (Pastor) is Fr. Nader Ata, OFM Conv. (appointed November 19, 2025).
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse
Why belong here
The Franciscan Place exists to make the sacraments available where people actually are — at work, shopping, or simply passing through. Anyone can step off the Destiny USA concourse into a quiet space for weekday Mass (Monday–Thursday at 12:15 PM), drop-in confession (Monday–Thursday afternoons and Saturday), monthly Anointing of the Sick, Wednesday Eucharistic Adoration, or a calm conversation with a Conventual Franciscan friar. Run by Assumption Church and staffed by friars of Our Lady of Angels Province, it is also a place to learn about the Catholic faith, ask questions about becoming Catholic, or browse gifts made by religious communities — all in an explicitly welcoming environment that says 'all are welcome: singles and families, rich and poor, young and wise, devout and searching, those differently-abled, LGBTQ+, immigrants and refugees.'
Mass times at The Franciscan Place Chapel (at Destiny USA Mall)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
- Tuesday: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
- Wednesday: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
- Thursday: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
- Saturday: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Adoration times
- Wednesday: 12:45 PM – 4:00 PM (Eucharistic Adoration)
About The Franciscan Place
The Franciscan Place (TFP) is a Catholic chapel and religious gift shop located on the lower level of Destiny USA mall in Syracuse, NY, next to the DSW store. It is staffed by Conventual Franciscan Friars and Sisters as a ministry of Assumption Church and the Diocese of Syracuse, offering weekday Mass, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, and Eucharistic Adoration in a setting designed to be welcoming, peaceful, and easy to step into. The ministry explicitly welcomes everyone: singles and families, rich and poor, young and wise, devout and searching, those differently-abled, LGBTQ+, immigrants, and refugees.
- Type: Chapel and Catholic gift shop in a shopping mall
- Operated by Conventual Franciscan Friars (OFM Conv.), Our Lady of Angels Province
- Ministry of Assumption Church, Diocese of Syracuse
- Phone: 315-471-9511
- Email: [email protected]
History and Founding (1999–Today)
The chapel opened in October 1999 after Bishop James M. Moynihan asked the Franciscan friars at Assumption Church to find a way to bring the Gospel into the marketplace. Monsignor J. Robert Yeazel, with Salli and Jim Tuozzolo, Conventual Franciscan Brother Joseph Freitag, OFM Conv., and Sister Marcia Barry (OSF), turned the idea into reality, and Fr. Canice Connors, OFM Conv., is credited as the founding friar alongside the Franciscan sisters. When Carousel Center expanded and rebranded as Destiny USA, the chapel was remodeled and nearly doubled in size. It marked its 25th anniversary on October 11, 2024, and was celebrated at a special Mass on January 10, 2025 with Bishop Douglas J. Lucia.
- Opened: October 1999
- Founded at the request of Bishop James M. Moynihan
- Fr. Canice Connors, OFM Conv., and Sr. Marcia Barry, OSF, among the founders
- Br. Joseph Freitag, OFM Conv., first director
- Expanded and remodeled during Carousel Center → Destiny USA transition
- 25th anniversary: October 11, 2024; anniversary Mass January 10, 2025
Staff and Leadership
The chapel is run by Conventual Franciscan Friars of the Our Lady of Angels Province, with Brother Jim Moore, OFM Conv., currently serving as Director and Guardian of Saint Francis Friary. Fr. Nader Ata, OFM Conv., who served as a priest at the chapel, was appointed Rector (Pastor) of Assumption Church effective November 19, 2025.
- Brother Jim Moore, OFM Conv. — Director, The Franciscan Place
- Fr. Nader Ata, OFM Conv. — Rector, Assumption Church (since Nov. 19, 2025); priest at the chapel
- Br. Joseph Freitag, OFM Conv. — founding/early director
- Fr. Canice Connors, OFM Conv. — founding friar
- Fr. Adam Keltos, OFM Conv. — former chaplain
- Philip Slominski, OFS — Deacon
- Rosemary Costa (Secular Franciscan Order) — former director
Gift Shop and Catholic Resources
The front section of The Franciscan Place is a religious gift shop whose sales help sustain the chapel's ministry. It carries rosaries, statues, first Communion and confession items, Franciscan candles made by the friars, Franciscan maple syrup from a Secular Franciscan, and educational and inspirational books, CDs, and DVDs for children and adults. Shop hours mirror the chapel's weekly schedule.
- Rosaries, statues, first Communion and confession items
- Franciscan candles (made by the friars) and Franciscan maple syrup
- Books, CDs, and DVDs for children and adults
- Shop hours: Monday–Thursday 12:00–5:00 PM; Saturday 12:00–3:00 PM
Evangelizing in the Marketplace
The chapel's mission is explicitly modeled on St. Francis of Assisi's habit of bringing the Gospel out to where people already are. Friars and staff are available not only for the sacraments but also for faith conversations, questions about becoming Catholic, and referrals to parishes, Catholic Charities, and food-pantry resources. Director Br. Jim Moore has described the chapel as 'a place of welcome for people of all faiths who want to sit for a quiet moment of reflection and find a haven of peace in our very busy and often chaotic world.'
- Modeled on St. Francis of Assisi's marketplace evangelization
- Faith conversations and RCIA-style inquiries welcomed
- Referrals to parishes, Catholic Charities, and food-pantry resources
- Welcomes people of all faiths for quiet reflection
Visiting The Franciscan Place
The chapel is on the lower (Commons) level of Destiny USA, next to the DSW store, and is described in its own materials as 'easily accessible.' It is part of the broader Assumption Church campus of ministries, alongside the parish food pantry and soup kitchen and the Poverello Health Center.
- Location: Lower level of Destiny USA, next to DSW store
- Address: 9090 Destiny USA Drive, Syracuse, NY 13204
- Phone: 315-471-9511
- Email: [email protected]
- Part of the Conventual Franciscan ministries of Assumption Church
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Canice Connors, OFM Conv.1999–
One of the founding friars; started the chapel ministry along with Sister Marcia Barry (OSF) and the Franciscan sisters.
- Brother Joseph Freitag, OFM Conv.
Early director of The Franciscan Place; cited as the public face of the chapel in early 2000s coverage.
- Rosemary Costa (Secular Franciscan Order)
Director of The Franciscan Place; oversaw Mass attendance growth and the gift-shop expansion into books, CDs, and DVDs.
- Father Adam Keltos, OFM Conv.
Chaplain at The Franciscan Place around the Destiny USA remodeling era.
- Father Nader Ata, OFM Conv.
Associate pastor / priest at the Franciscan Place; appointed Rector of Assumption Church effective November 19, 2025.
- Brother Jim Moore, OFM Conv.current
Current Director of The Franciscan Place; serves as Guardian of Saint Francis Friary.