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Secular Franciscans, OFS
Secular Franciscans, OFS
The Secular Franciscan Order, formerly known as the Third Order of St. Francis, is an official Order within the Catholic Church, established by St. Francis of Assisi early in the thirteenth century. By profession, Secular Franciscans promise to follow a Rule of Life approved and confirmed by Pope Paul VI in June of 1978. The Secular Franciscan Order is a worldwide Order with over 300,000 members. In the United States there are over 600 local fraternities and approximately 12,000 professed members. The Holy See has entrusted the pastoral care of the Secular Franciscan Order to the Franciscan Friars of the First Order and Third Order Regulars who serve as spiritual assistants to the OFS.
What We Do…
The Secular Franciscan Order is made up of women and men, single or married, or members of the diocesan clergy. We live in our homes and with our families but come together on a regular basis with our local Franciscan communities, which we call Fraternities. Generally, we gather in fraternity once or twice a month to pray, to share with one another about our lives, and to continue our life-long journey of formation. Both individually and as fraternities, we engage in apostolic work and various ministries, with a particular outreach to the poor and marginalized, and a focus on peace, justice, and care of creation. As Franciscans, we are called to prayer and contemplation, as well as to an active presence in the world.
Our foundations come from the desire of ordinary people living in the times of St. Francis who wanted to join his new order. St. Francis counseled them not to leave their families or abandon their work in the world but to embrace the Gospel in the ordinary circumstances of their lives. He wrote a Rule of life for these men and women who came to be known as the “Brothers and Sisters of Penance.” In later year, these brothers and sisters were called members of the Third Order of St. Francis. Today, we are known as Secular Franciscans, and our initials are “OFS”.
Admission into the Order is gradually attained through a time of initiation and a period of formation. It is a journey that involves three stages, culminating in Profession. Profession is a solemn ecclesial act by which the candidate publicly affirms their personal commitment to live the Gospel according to the Rule and a commitment to the fraternity. To be admitted to the Order, a person must be a fully initiated member of the Catholic Church. In the United States, the minimum age for a perpetual profession is 21; for a temporary profession, 18. Youth and young adults who may be interested in the Secular Franciscan Order but are not ready to make a lifelong commitment may be interested in our program for Franciscan Youth.
Would you like to give more time to God, but wonder how to do that when your life is so busy? Do you long for holiness and feel a need for support in growing spiritually? Perhaps your heart has been moved by stories of St. Francis of Assisi or the Peace Prayer attributed to him, and you are seeking that same holy simplicity, true peace, and perfect joy. If so, Christ may be calling you to explore the Secular Franciscan life. We would be happy to meet with you to share about the Franciscan journey. We invite you to contact us. if you are interested in pursing this way of life established by St. Francis of Assisi, please click on the 'Contact Us' page on the drop down menu above.
Franciscanos Seglares, OFS
La Orden Franciscana Seglar, anteriormente conocida como la Tercera Orden de San Francisco, es una Orden oficial dentro de la Iglesia Católica, establecida por San Francisco de Asís a principios del siglo XIII. Por profesión, los Franciscanos Seglares prometen seguir una Regla de Vida aprobada y confirmada por el Papa Pablo VI en junio de 1978.La Orden Franciscana Seglar es una Orden mundial con más de 300.000 miembros. En los Estados Unidos hay más de 600 fraternidades locales y aproximadamente 12.000 miembros profesos. La Santa Sede ha confiado el cuidado pastoral de la Orden Franciscana Seglar a los Frailes Franciscanos de la Primera Orden y de la Tercera Orden Regular, que sirven como asistentes espirituales de la OFS.
Lo que hacemos...
La Orden Franciscana Seglar está formada por mujeres y hombres, solteros o casados, o miembros del clero diocesano. Vivimos en nuestras casas y con nuestras familias, pero nos reunimos regularmente con nuestras comunidades franciscanas locales, a las que llamamos Fraternidades. Generalmente, nos reunimos en fraternidad una o dos veces al mes para orar, para compartir unos con otros sobre nuestras vidas y para continuar nuestro camino de formación de toda la vida. Tanto individualmente como como fraternidades, nos comprometemos en el trabajo apostólico y en varios ministerios, con un alcance particular hacia los pobres y marginados, y un enfoque en la paz, la justicia y el cuidado de la creación. Como franciscanos estamos llamados a la oración y a la contemplación, así como a una presencia activa en el mundo.
Nuestras fundaciones nacen del deseo de la gente común que vivía en los tiempos de San Francisco y que quería unirse a su nueva orden. San Francisco les aconsejó que no abandonaran a sus familias ni abandonaran su trabajo en el mundo, sino que abrazaran el Evangelio en las circunstancias ordinarias de sus vidas. Escribió una Regla de vida para estos hombres y mujeres que llegaron a ser conocidos como los "Hermanos y Hermanas de la Penitencia". Años más tarde, estos hermanos y hermanas fueron llamados miembros de la Tercera Orden de San Francisco. Hoy se nos conoce como Franciscanos Seglares, y nuestras iniciales son "OFS".
La admisión en la Orden se logra gradualmente a través de un tiempo de iniciación y un período de formación. Es un viaje que consta de tres etapas, que culminan en la Profesión. La profesión es un acto eclesial solemne mediante el cual el candidato afirma públicamente su compromiso personal de vivir el Evangelio según la Regla, y un compromiso con la fraternidad. Para ser admitido a la Orden, una persona debe ser un miembro plenamente iniciado de la Iglesia Católica. En los Estados Unidos, la edad mínima para la profesión perpetua es de 21 años; para la profesión temporal, 18. Los jóvenes y jóvenes adultos que pueden estar interesados en la Orden Franciscana Seglar, pero que no están listos para hacer un compromiso de por vida, pueden estar interesados en nuestro programa para la Juventud Franciscana.
¿Te gustaría dedicar más tiempo a Dios, pero te preguntas cómo hacerlo cuando tu vida está tan ocupada? ¿Anhelas la santidad y sientes la necesidad de apoyo para crecer espiritualmente? ¿Quizás tu corazón ha sido conmovido por las historias de San Francisco de Asís, o la Oración por la Paz que se le atribuye, y estás buscando esa misma santa simplicidad, la verdadera paz y la alegría perfecta? Si es así, Cristo puede estar llamándote a explorar la vida franciscana seglar. Estaremos encantados de encontrarnos con ustedes para compartir el camino franciscano. Le invitamos a ponerse en contacto con nosotros, si está interesado en seguir esta forma de vida establecida por San Francisco de Asís, haga clic en la página 'Contáctenos' en el menú desplegable de arriba.
History of Secular Franciscans in Arizona
by Tom McNamara, OFS
St. Francis Fraternity
St. Mary’s Basilica
Saint Elizabeth Fraternity, the first Secular Franciscan fraternity in Arizona, was erected in Arizona on February 18th, 1898, two years after Franciscan friars arrived at Saint Mary's. The fraternity was created to help catechize and guide Spanish-speaking members of the parish. Since the Valley of the Sun had only been “settled” for about twenty-five years, the presence of Catholic priests and their influence was relatively new. A booklet published by St. Mary's in 1995 remembers that “...the area of the town near Saint Mary's contained a number of Mexican and Chinese tenements, saloons, a brewery, several Chinese laundries, a few billiards establishments, an assortment of stores, feed and stable businesses, one doctor's office, and a Mexican fire house directly behind St. Mary's. Many of the nearby dwellings were frame structures with canvas sides, while the remainder were made of adobe.” There was also a trolley, pulled by a donkey, that ran outside the windows of the Rectory, keeping the friars awake at night.
An old Spanish journal records the first member of St. Elizabeth's fraternity, Francisco Buriel, admitted along with sixteen others on February 8, 1898. All of them were professed the following year by Father Albunus Schwarz, O.F.M. The journal goes on to list three-hundred and seventy-three professions in Saint Elizabeth fraternity, the last on April 28, 1946.
By 1900, Phoenix was growing quickly with an influx of new residents from the East. A cash journal shows that a new Fraternity named for Saint Francis was organized for English-speakers at Saint Mary's on May 15, 1922. Since locating and formally approving new fraternities was a bit of a challenge, it wasn't until September 12, 1940, that Saint Francis was erected in Rome. It took nearly a year to get all the necessary signatures.
Since 1940, more than twenty new fraternities have been served in Arizona. Some have succeeded while others have not. There are currently twelve active fraternities in our State.
In 1950, Saint Elizabeth Fraternity, no longer professing new members, petitioned to be deactivated and blended into Saint Francis Fraternity. Seventy-five years later, Saint Francis Fraternity continues to serve and support the mission and life of Saint Mary's community. We look forward to a long and fruitful partnership as Saint Mary's begins a new chapter serving the needs of inner-city Phoenix.
Historia de los franciscanos seglares en Arizona
por Tom McNamara, OFS
Fraternidad San Francisco
Basílica de Santa María
La Fraternidad de Santa Isabel, la primera fraternidad franciscana seglar en Arizona, fue erigida en Arizona el 18 de febrero de 1898, dos años después de que los frailes franciscanos llegaran a Santa María. La fraternidad fue creada para ayudar a catequizar y guiar a los miembros de habla hispana de la parroquia. Dado que el Valle del Sol sólo había sido "colonizado" durante unos veinticinco años, la presencia de sacerdotes católicos y su influencia era relativamente nueva. Un folleto publicado por St. Mary's en 1995 recuerda que "... el área de la ciudad cerca de Saint Mary's contenía una serie de viviendas mexicanas y chinas, salones, una cervecería, varias lavanderías chinas, algunos establecimientos de billar, una variedad de tiendas, negocios de alimentos y establos, un consultorio médico y una estación de bomberos mexicana directamente detrás de St. Mary's. Muchas de las viviendas cercanas eran estructuras de armazón con lados de lona, mientras que el resto estaban hechas de adobe". También había un carro, tirado por un burro, que corría por las ventanas de la Rectoría, manteniendo despiertos a los frailes por la noche.
Un viejo diario español registra que el primer miembro de la fraternidad de Santa Isabel, Francisco Buriel, fue admitido junto con otros dieciséis el 8 de febrero de 1898. Todos ellos fueron profesados al año siguiente por el P. Albunus Schwarz, O.F.M. La revista continúa enumerando trescientas setenta y tres profesiones en la fraternidad de Santa Isabel, la última el 28 de abril de 1946.
En 1900, Phoenix estaba creciendo rápidamente con una afluencia de nuevos residentes del este. Un diario muestra que el 15 de mayo de 1922 se organizó una nueva fraternidad que lleva el nombre de San Francisco para los angloparlantes en Saint Mary's. Dado que localizar y aprobar formalmente nuevas fraternidades era un desafío, no fue hasta el 12 de septiembre de 1940 que San Francisco fue erigido en Roma. Se tardó casi un año en conseguir todas las firmas necesarias.
Desde 1940, más de veinte nuevas fraternidades han sido atendidas en Arizona. Algunos lo han logrado, mientras que otros no. Actualmente hay doce fraternidades activas en nuestro Estado.
En 1950, la Fraternidad de Santa Isabel, que ya no profesaba nuevos miembros, solicitó ser desactivada y mezclada con la Fraternidad de San Francisco. Setenta y cinco años después, la Fraternidad de San Francisco continúa sirviendo y apoyando la misión y la vida de la comunidad de Santa María. Esperamos una asociación larga y fructífera a medida que Saint Mary's comienza un nuevo capítulo al servicio de las necesidades del centro de la ciudad de Phoenix.
Young Franciscans (You Fra)
Young Franciscans (You Fra)
Welcome to Young Franciscans (You Fra), a young adult ministry to college students and young adults (18-39 years). A place to discover
Welcome to Young Franciscans (You Fra), a young adult ministry to college students and young adults (18-39 years). A place to discover
community, prayer and service in the Franciscan tradition at St. Mary's Basilica. Please join us for one or all of our events.
community, prayer and service in the Franciscan tradition at St. Mary's Basilica. Please join us for one or all of our events.
What the Church and Secular Franciscans
What the Church and Secular Franciscans
Offer to Youth and Young Adults
Offer to Youth and Young Adults
In Sons and Daughters of Light: A Pastoral Plan for Ministry with Young Adults, our Bishops respond to the question, “What can the Church offer to fulfill the spiritual hunger of young adults?” Their answer is “The Church can offer them a vision of life based on a faith that calls each of them to holiness, community, and service.”
The National Franciscan Youth and Young Adult Commission has spent the last several years developing a plan to help individuals, fraternities, and regions step into the world of youth and young adults in order to co-operate with this three-fold mission the Bishops have provided. As Secular Franciscans we are uniquely qualified to undertake the task as individuals and fraternities.
A life based on faith is a call to…
Holiness
Secular Franciscans seek holiness not only by living gospel to life and life to gospel, but by offering others, especially young people, the opportunity to consider the same. We envision journeying with youth and young adults as they develop relationships with Jesus Christ and discern their purpose in life.
By our witness and through prayer experiences, formation, and social justice action young people are invited to say “yes” to a Christ-centered life.
Community
For Secular Franciscans, community means the commitment to and benefits of vibrant fraternity life. A fraternity is considered a family. Our younger brothers and sisters are welcome to join us or to form their own youth fraternity (YouFra). Either way, young people are a treasure—a vital part of our Church that we don’t want to lose. They deserve our time, hospitality, friendship, and support as they choose a life of faith.
Service
Service is a large part of our Franciscan charism. Most young people are interested in social justice and care for creation. They have a passion for change and a strong desire for action. Inviting young people to participate in our apostolates, or joining with young people in theirs, is a dynamic way to reach out to our younger generation.
Our OFS Rule
Pope Francis wrote in Christus Vivit: The Apostolic Exhortation to young people(CV), “Christ is alive! He is our hope, and in a wonderful way he brings youth to our world, and everything he touches becomes young, new, full of life.”(CV,#1) Our Rule calls us to “foster communion,” with our young people and “to adopt appropriate means for growth in Franciscan and ecclesial life.”(art. 24) The Franciscan Youth and Young Adult Commission is working hard to provide support for this effort. We invite you to join us in this adventure and are hopeful the fruit of our labor will be the gathering of hearts that are new and full of life!
For more information, please click on the link below.
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