We are pleased to welcome Fr. John Puodziunas, OFM, as the new Commissary of the Holy Land.
Fr. John brings not only decades of pastoral ministry but also a longstanding and meaningful relationship with the region. Through years of close collaboration with the friars of the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America, and in his role as President of the Franciscan Foundation for the Holy Land, he has frequently visited the sacred places, gaining a deep appreciation for both the beauty and the complexity of the Franciscan mission in the land of Jesus.
Born in Philadelphia to Lithuanian refugee parents, Fr. John entered the Franciscan Order in 1980 and was ordained in 1987. He holds a degree in Computational Mathematics from Marquette University and a master’s degree in management from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.
He has served the Order in key leadership roles, including Provincial Treasurer, Provincial Vicar, Provincial Minister, and most recently General Economo (2015–2024). Alongside these responsibilities, he has remained deeply engaged in pastoral ministry as a priest, preacher, and spiritual guide.
The Commissary of the Holy Land in Washington serves as a vital bridge between the United States and the Holy Land.
We also extend our heartfelt gratitude to Fr. David Grenier, OFM, for his nearly seven years of dedicated and invaluable service to both the United States and the Holy Land.