The process of becoming a professed Secular Franciscan is a journey that involves three separate stages and culminates in a lifelong commitment to live the gospel following the example of St. Francis of Assisi.

This formation process unfolds in regularly scheduled formation sessions during which the home study material is thoroughly discussed.

The first stage, Orientation, provides time for dialogue and developing relationships in fraternity. During Orientation you will be introduced to the lives of St. Francis and St. Clare and share in Franciscan prayer life. You will be given general information about the Secular Franciscan Order. Orientation is a time to discern if the Spirit is calling you to a Secular Franciscan vocation. The period of Orientation is a minimum of three months.

The second stage, Inquiry, is the first formal period of initiation. It is a time of in-depth study. During Inquiry you will learn about the Franciscan charism and history, church doctrine, and the lives of St. Francis and St. Clare. You will deepen your understanding of what it means to be secular and Franciscan, and you will continue to discern if the Spirit is calling you to the Secular Franciscan way of life. The period of Inquiry is a minimum of six months. If a vocation is discerned, the Inquirer is received into the Order as a Candidate.

The third stage, Candidacy, is the final formal period of initiation. It is a time of preparing for permanent commitment by immersion into fraternity life. Central to this stage of formation is Article 4 of The Rule of the Secular Franciscan Order which states, “The rule and life of the Secular Franciscan is this: to observe the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ by following Saint Francis of Assisi, who made Christ the inspiration and the center of his life with God and people.”

The period of Candidacy is a minimum of eighteen months in which in-depth study continues and culminates in Profession (a permanent commitment to the gospel life).

The newly professed member joins the rest of the fraternity in ongoing formation and in participating in personal and community ministries (such as prayer, soup kitchens/food pantries, being parish lectors/eucharistic ministers, prison ministry, senior citizen outreach, youth ministry, etc.).

Want to Know More?

To find out more about becoming a Secular Franciscan, or to find fraternities nearest you:

call:
1-800-FRANCIS

email:
Nat’l Vocations Director
or
Regional Vocations Office