Who are the popular Franciscans?
They are the imitators of St. Francisco from Asyż. He was the son of a rich merchant. As a young boy he led a careless life and dreamt of chivalry fame. During the war with Perugia he was captured. When he came back home he experienced a spiritual breakthrough.
He abandoned everything that was the sense of his life giving himself completely to God.
When he heard the Christ's order;” Francisco, go and rebuild my home as it is completely ruined!” he renewed some churches in the area of Asyż. By getting rid of everything he owed even his clothing he lived like a recluse. Later he understood that God called him for something more important - for spiritual reformation of the church. Wearing carded frock, girded with the string he started preaching God's Word. At first he was alone, very often misunderstood and jeered, but soon other young people started to join him. In this way he became the founder of 3 monasteries: Little Friars, Clarisse's Sisters, Tertian's.
During the war with Muslims about the Holy Land he even went to sultan's camp to announce him good news. In the nigh of Christmas 1223 he made the first crib in Greccio. In the mid September 1224 on the Alwernia Mountain they got stigmas.
Up till now Francisco is highly regarded, loved and liked not only by Catholics and other Christians but also by non-Christians.

Franciscan's life
(Full name: The Monastery of Smaller Friars)
It is about preserving the Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ by living in obedience, without property and being clean. The Gospel is the basis and final Monastery life norm which has the contemplating-active character which means it connects prayer life with apostolic work. Franciscans live in fraternal community which consists of priests and monks without holy orders. They try to comply with the gospel's words. Franciscans' spirituality focuses on the person of Jesus Christ, the Eucharist; it marks with deep worship to Heavenly Mother and faithfulness to the Church. By listening ‘with one ear God's will, with another they listen attentively to human” they remain sensitive to the world where they want to build the heavenly kingdom. Even nowadays the Lord calls many young people for living with the Gospel in the St. Francisco's

The biggest in the world
This monastery is not only the biggest in Poland but also in the world. After the huge tree with 3 crowns fashion -3 big obediences of Franciscan Monastery(under separate superiors) have almost 40 000 monks.
In Poland there are 10 Franciscans provinces- the province of St. Francisco from Asyż Smaller Friars is the youngest. It deals with the external missions (beyond the Polish borders and on other continents) and with community missions (in the country); sending the missionaries to evangelizing work. Co-brothers of this province work in Germany, Austria, Italy, Albania, Libya, Holy Land, Bolivia, in Madagascar or Papua in New Guinea. Besides the Franciscans conduct the youngsters' ministry of different church groups. They are the priests in hospitals, prisons; some of the Franciscans deal with the parish ministry and school catechization. By the first Monastery, next to the Franciscan Secular Monastery, appeared young people movement named Franciscan Apostolic Movement. The Monastery publishes its magazine “Franciscan World” and organizes meetings for youngsters and retreats.
In the Poznański Province, under which the wejherowski's monastery was subordinated to, there are 2 Passion Calvaries (in Wejherowo and and Pakość) and St. Antoni's Sanctuary (in Jarocin and Brodnica). The area of this monastic province stretches on the half of Poland (to the north on Hel , to the South through Wschowa, Osieczna, and Jarocin and finally to the east in Olsztyn and Barczewo).
The monastic community takes in candidates after secondary school graduation with matriculation exam (for priests) and after vocational schools (for monks). The monastic formation is begun with the postulate after which ever year taking the frock proceeds, and then novitiate. After this the vows are taken for a year which is renewed every year and after few years the celebrated vows are taken, wchich are for the rest of life. After the novitiate the candidates for friars go through so called “Juniorate” and priest candidates study philosophy and theology.
Male youngsters are allowed to be present in the Novitiate monastery where for 3 weeks they can be together with the novices who are young Franciscans. Thanks to such experience they can somehow see the life in monastery.

Franciscans in Wejherowo
The first Franciscans-reformers came to Wejherowo on 13 September 1647 from Goruszek near Rawicz. Both of the foundations of Jakub Wejher- monastery and St. Ann's Church- were still being built therefore the monks were living first in some houses on Klasztorna street, later called Workowa (Sackgasse) Street. With the moment of settling in our town they took care of the Calvary of Wejherowo. In 1650 the provincial Bonawntura Truszkulawski issued the act erecting the 7 grade monastic school, whose opening was in November 1651. The candidates were prepared there for higher school for priests. The curricula involved Polish language, Religion Education, Latin, German language and accountancy. The school theater was working. The first rector, who was usually Monastery Guardian, was Grzegorz from Gdańsk. Wejherowski's College existed until 1826 when it was closed by Prussian authorities. In 1834 suppression of the reformation monastery took place. The supremacy over the St. Ann's church was given to clergymen from the church of Holy Trinity. In the abandoned monastic buildings a cloth factory was to be made. However the king Fryderyk Wilhelm IV and his government consented to the request of Chełm's bishop Anastazy Sedlag and Countess Klementyna Keyserlingk about Catholic Middle school foundation. In this time the changes in the politics of Prussian authorities took place under the pressure of March Revolution in 1848 legislation was liberalized. It resulted in calming the tense ethic and religious situation also in Cashubia. In 1852 the monks returned to their monastery. However the peace seemed unstable. In 1871-1878 Bismarck began “Kulturkampf”. It was about brutal dealing with Catholicism and polishness. Wejherowski's monks from the spring of 1872 were already living in so called New Monastery on 3 rd May Street which was built from believers' contributions under fara's priest Jan Rook guidance. Prussian government sold to the town the monastery worth 3 thousand talars, with the intention of this money for the town school. Every hope for changing the fate for better was taken from the Wejherowski's reformers by the issue from 31 st May 1875 which stated that all monasteries and the like catholic gatherings were to be suppressed on the whole territory of Prussia and setting up new ones was forbidden. On 1 st October 1875 the monks were forced to leave New Monastery. After monks leaving fromWejherowo the care about maintaining the Calvarias chapels and organization of the indulgences was rest on the priest from St. Trinity Church. Thanks to the Chełmińsky bishop Kazimierz J. Kowalski kindness Franciscans came back to Wejherowo on 4 th October 1946. The parish near the St. Ann's Church was founded on 17 th September 1975 (sources: Regina Osowicka “Wejherowsky guidebook” Wejherowo 2006)