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Welcome to the web site of the National Fraternity of the Secular
Franciscan Order (SFO) in the United States of America. The Secular
Franciscan Order, formerly known as the Third Order of St. Francis, is an
official Order within the Catholic Church, and was established by St.
Francis of Assisi early in the thirteenth century. Members do not live in
community, but live their everyday lives in the world. However, members
gather together in fraternity on a regular basis. By profession, they
promise to follow a Rule of Life approved and confirmed by Pope Paul VI in
June of 1978.
In these fraternities the brothers and sisters, led by the Spirit, strive
for perfect charity in their own secular state.
At their profession they pledge themselves to live the gospel in the
manner of St. Francis by means of this rule
approved by the Church. The Pauline Rule and the
General Constitutions of the Secular Franciscan Order
are available at the National Fraternity website.
The National Fraternity is represented at the International level (headquarters in Rome - see website
http://www.ciofs.org/sfo.htm) by an International Councilor.
The SFO in the United States is structured into 30 geographic regions;
the Minister (president) of each Region is a member of the National
Fraternity Council, as are the members of the National Executive Council
and four members of the Conference of National Spiritual Assistants, one
from each of the four Friar Obediences. There are approximately 741
local fraternities which have a total of approximately 15,000 professed
members, and there are approximately 1400 people in formation. Each
fraternity has a Spiritual Assistant, who is usually a First Order, or
Third Order Regular, Friar, but could be a religious, diocesan clergy, or a
certified lay Secular Franciscan.
The process of becoming a professed Secular Franciscans involves a
commitment of from 18 to 36 months of formation. The extent depends on
the guidelines of the particular Region. The average duration of a
monthly formation meeting is approximately two hours. At home study is
expected. Initial formation is divided into three stages: an
Orientation stage, an Inquiry stage and a Candidacy stage. The
Orientation stage is a time for determining a person's interest,
eligibility and disposition to enter into the rest of the process. The
Inquiry stage is a time of learning about the Franciscan charism,
Franciscan history, etc. and is a time of discernment to determine if
the inquirer has a vocation to the Order. If vocation is discerned,
the inquirer is received into the Order. The goal
of the Candidacy phase of formation is the candidate's profession to
live the Rule of the Secular Franciscan Order. Profession is a lifetime
commitment.
The Rule calls Secular Franciscans to four Apostolic areas: Ecology,
Family, Peace and Justice and Work. National Apostolic Commissions
promote apostolic action in these four areas. There is a National Youth
Commission which promotes the Franciscan Charism among youth, and a
National Formation Commission.
If you are interested in the Secular Franciscan Order, and, especially,
if you feel that you have a vocation, please phone 1-800-FRANCIS for
more information.
Peace and all that is good!
J. Patrick Mendés, SFO
Minister, Secular Franciscan Order - USA
November 2006
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