[1] The Carmelite friary in Lienz was founded in 1349 by the Countess Euphemia of Görz[2] and her two sons, Albert IV and Meinhard VII.

In 1430 a vicariate was set up for the friary in Tristach, which along with the contributions of the populace and the noble families secured its financial stability.

In 1788 an auxiliary priest was attached to the friary church for the use of the townspeople, and the Franciscans began their care of souls in the hospital.

[2] In addition, the first decades of the friary were very turbulent thanks to the political conditions (Age of Enlightenment, Tyrolean struggle for independence).

After the end of the war, in 1948, Bishop Paulus Rusch [de] attached the parish of St Mary's to the friary church.

Today (as of 2015) 5 or so Franciscans look after the parish, which has about 4,200 Catholic residents, and are also available for other spiritual duties of care in Lienz and the surrounding area.

Florentin Nothegger: Sondernummer der Osttiroler Heimatblätter zum 200jährigen Bestand des Franziskanerklosters Lienz.