In 1856, two diocesan priests from Switzerland, John Frey and Gregory Haas, established the first permanent Capuchin fraternity in the United States. This was the beginning of a very fruitful and grace-filled history. Frey and Haas wanted to help the many German Catholics in this country who did not have enough German-speaking priests to serve their spiritual needs. Impressed and inspired by the Capuchins they knew in their own native land, they decided to bring the Capuchin charisms of fraternity, prayer, and compassionate ministry to the United States.