About Us
The Team – Franciscan and Friends is just that, a motley group led by a secular Franciscan, with help from many dedicated allies and pals.
Franciscan & Friends is committed to the Truth & Reconciliation Commission Action #83.
“A strategy for Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists to undertake collaborative projects and produce works that contribute to the reconciliation process.”
Denis Grady, Executive Director – One-of-a-kind longtime troubadour, promoter, servant leader and friend to many.
Bill Locke, Project Manager – Longtime consultant, Bill brings decades of experience to our charity.
Daryl Moldenhauer , Marketing Director – A seasoned marketer, Daryl is always coming up with new ways to showcase others talents and gifts.
As a result of spending time with people young and old, talking to focus groups, working side-by-side and having the elders interview their own people, we slowly realized that we must open up our lives to the priorities they place on their lives. What stood out? A deep hunger to express themselves through arts and culture.
All art mediums are a unique channel for communicating that can inspire and motivate. Art is vehicle for individual expression, and it can play an important role in the personal development of all. Art discipline can reflect the culture and society that we live in or come from.
Arts – and music in particular – can play an important role in helping youth feel included, connected to a community. The teaching and learning of music enable students to learn more about the world we live in. We provide opportunities for all to create, play, perform and enjoy music; to develop the skills to appreciate a wide variety of art disciplines musical forms, and to develop the confidence to make informed judgements about the art creations, stories, song and dance.
Though they may not know it, the arts are healing and bring deep changes and personal growth that no other form of help can bring.
Mission History
The Franciscan and Friends Ecumenical Music Mission began in 2002 at World Youth Day in Toronto. The Franciscan Community of Toronto invited Catholic musician Denis Grady to organize a group of musicians from North America, the Caribbean, Central America and Europe to participate in the celebrations during the visit of Pope John Paul II.
In 2005 the Roman Catholic Dioceses of Trinidad and Barbados invited the group to the Caribbean for a series of fundraising concerts, music classes and ministry visits to prisons, drug and alcohol rehabs, seniors’ homes, schools and impoverished neighbourhoods.
The Caribbean Mission operated as an annual event every October and has expanded to other islands including St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia, Grenada, Guatemala, Belize and the Dominican Republic until 2017.
In 2017 the Mission began monthly visits to the Piikani, Tsuu Tina, Blood & Blackfoot First Nations of Southern Alberta. The Team is now focused on serving in Canada and the United States to First Nations communities.The Mission is coordinated by Denis Grady OFS, Calgary, Alberta.
The Franciscan and Friends Mission effectively utilizes the universal language of music to build community, evangelize and minister not just to the poor but the broader human family, a smart initiative with broad ecumenical participation.
Bishop Emeritus FB Henry, Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary
