FRIARS OF THE POOR OF ST FRANCIS SERAPHIC. — They were founded by Fr Giovanni Hover (1816–64) at Aix-la-Chapelle in 1861 under the influence of the Venerable Francesca Schervier, for the education and care of orphans and the poor.
When the Institute began to develop, it was forced by the *Kulturkampf* to leave Germany and found refuge in Holland, where (1876–77) it established the house at Bleverheide, which is the mother-house. From 1866 it has been present in the United States, from 1900 in Belgium and from 1931 in Japan. In 1907 it was aggregated to the Franciscan Order. At present it has 17 houses with 302 brothers.
Bibl.: M. Heimbucher, *Die Orden und Kongregationen der katholischen Kirche*, II, 3rd ed., Paderborn 1934, pp. 18–19.
Cesario van Huls