How did the FDP Order get started?
The Franciscan Friars of Divine Providence, as it was called in the beginning, was founded in 1995 in the State of Rhode Island as a Religious Order of men from various Catholic traditions by (then) Brother Russell Francis Coates, Jr., FDP. Our Founder was ordained to the Catholic Priesthood on July 7, 1997 at Grace Place in Chicago, Illinois for the Holy Catholic Church (USA). On January 1, 2003, the members of the Order voted to include women into the life of the FDP. Our Order’s name was then changed to the Franciscans of Divine Providence. Father Coates resigned from the ministry of the H.C.C. on January 1, 2003. He was incardinated to the National Catholic Church of America from January 1, 2003 until July 1, 2003. On that date, he and the members of the Order voted to terminate our ties with the NCCA and return our Order to independent status. For the record, we are not affiliated with any person or persons who represent themselves on the Internet or in public under a corporate na
