The Franciscan Friars of the Atonement are a Roman Catholic order of brothers and priests founded in 1898 by Fr. Paul Wattson, SA at Graymoor in Garrison. Since that time, the Friars have worked for reconciliation and healing through “at-one-ment” — the unity of men and women with God and with one another — so that the prayer of Jesus “that they all may be one” might be fulfilled.
Through their mission and ministries they serve people of every race, religion, and walk of life. Their social ministries help the poor and the homeless; people living with HIV; frail and elderly in hospitals and hospices; those in prison; and people seeking recovery from alcoholism and chemical addictions.
Their ecumenical work seeks to heal the divisions within Christianity and to create harmony between all faiths. Their ecumenical ministries include Graymoor Ecumenical and Interreligious Institute, publisher of the journal Ecumenical Trends, and Centro Pro Unione, an ecumenical research and action center in Rome, Italy.
Through their prayers and pastoral ministries, they bring spiritual renewal, unity, harmony, and reconciliation throughout the world and carry the Gospel message to three continents.