The Family of Mary Immaculate and St Francis, commonly known as the Marian Franciscans, will cease to exist as a canonical community with effect from May 31, 2026, following a diocesan decision.
Erected as a Public Association of the Faithful in the Diocese of Portsmouth exactly eight years ago, the community combined Franciscan spirituality with a strong Marian charism. It attracted vocations from the United Kingdom and abroad, with members from multiple nationalities across four continents.
Beyond parish ministry, the friars led pilgrimages, retreats, workshops, conferences and youth and men’s activities, while also supporting pro-life initiatives and Marian apostolates in different parts of the country.
The community built a notable media presence through Radio Immaculata, a 24-hour online radio station and YouTube channel carrying homilies, talks and live programming. As of May 2026, the channel had approximately 33,100 subscribers. It also operated MaryHouse Press as a publishing initiative.
In a detailed Q&A released with the announcement, the trustees explained that the decision followed a period of discernment about the long-term viability of the community in the United Kingdom. Despite growth in numbers and apostolic activity, they concluded that it was not possible to secure the practical and canonical support needed for ongoing formation and future priestly ordinations.
The Bishop of Portsmouth, the Most Rev Philip Egan, has permitted the friar priests incardinated in his diocese to continue the community’s apostolate at three existing locations: St Joseph’s in Copnor, St Agatha’s Ordinariate Church in central Portsmouth and St Thomas More in Bournemouth. The broader Marian Franciscan community as such will cease to exist.
In February 2025, the Marian Franciscans faced significant upheaval when the Bishop of Dunkeld, the Rt Rev Andrew McKenzie, asked the community – both friars and Sisters – to leave the Diocese of Dunkeld in Scotland. They had been invited to occupy the former Lawside Convent and Diocesan Centre in Dundee by Bishop Stephen Robson in 2022.
The decision by Bishop McKenzie, who succeeded Bishop Robson, left the community facing the prospect of homelessness and was met with sadness among some traditional Catholics in Britain. The Sisters in Dundee, in particular, expressed their intention to continue celebrating the Traditional Latin Mass while seeking clarification.
The dissolution marks the end of a distinctive chapter in contemporary Catholic life in Britain. Supporters have expressed gratitude for the community’s witness, prayer and ministry, crediting it with fostering conversions, vocations, Marian devotion and renewed participation in sacramental life.
Many traditional Catholics had welcomed the Marian Franciscans as a vibrant expression of Franciscan-Marian spirituality in an increasingly secular environment.
Further practical arrangements for the friars and those they served are to be determined by the relevant dioceses. The Friends of the Marian Franciscans charity trust will continue to provide support during the transition period.
