Fr. Lester Knoll, OFM Cap

Former Director

Fr. Lester Knoll, OFM Cap., has been a professed Capuchin friar of the Province of Saint Augustine for over 60 years. He has had a variety of leadership and pastoral assignments.  His experience made him a natural fit for National Executive Director of the Archconfraternity of Christian Mothers from 2004 – 2007.  Already well established among groups of all ages and interests, the wisdom and youthful spirit of Father Lester dovetailed with the variety of women involved in Christian Mothers.  

Having been born into a family of twelve children, Fr. Lester adapted easily between the industriousness of being a missionary in Papua New Guinea for thirteen years to being a hermit, author, and spiritual director later in life.  

Fr. Lester served as the vocation director for the Province of Saint Augustine and as Director of the Capuchin Youth Center in Pittsburgh’s Brookline neighborhood, before leaving for Papua New Guinea in 1975. In 1988 he would find himself back in the states, serving as spiritual director for the young men studying at Borromeo Seminary in Wickliffe, Ohio. 

Fr. Lester is author of several books including Looking Over His Shoulder, and Love Is Not Loved.  He also helped to create the revised edition of the Mother Love Prayer Book.