Just as the first and second orders live in We Are an Order community with other religious members, Secular also come together Secular Lay orders allow for the faithful in fraternities to meet monthly with other to join an order of the church without the professed members. In fraternity they need to leave behind family and pray together and make and the Franciscan professional lives. Just like the religious Eucharist the centre of their fraternal life. orders, lay orders have a Rule of Life Each fraternity is canonically established approved by the , a period of and becomes a visible sign of the whole Order formation, a profession, monthly church in miniature. In fraternity they grow meetings and Chapters. Secular and support other members in their Franciscans do not take the vows of Franciscan way of life. poverty, chastity and obedience as the religious orders do; rather they make a Unlike the and , Secular lifelong profession to live according to Franciscans do not live in monasteries or the rule of the secular order. convents, nor are they required to wear any religious habits/robes; rather, having Belonging to an order of the Catholic declaring the whole world to be their Church is a calling to live in deeper ‘cloister’ they remain in the family home communion with the church. Secular and dress normally while wearing an Franciscans therefore live in full emblem of the Franciscan habit such as a communion with the , bishops and around their necks. priests. They are called to deepen their understanding of the church’s teachings Joining any order of the church is a while working together with it in its vocation and a calling. Being a Secular mission. Secular Franciscans participate Franciscan is a lifelong commitment, so a fully in the sacramental and prayer life of time of prayerful discernment is required. the church, including the prayers of the The Secular Franciscan Order is not a Divine Office. club, a pious prayer group or fellowship group; it is an order for the , a calling Unlike clerical religious orders, members to live a deeper love of God and of the lay order effectively become the neighbour by following Christ in the living church within the secular world. footsteps of St Francis of . Called like St Francis to rebuild the

church, Secular Franciscans are able to Secular Franciscan Order Australia bring the love of God, the church and the Email: [email protected] spirit of the Franciscan order into the workplace and civil society. Web: www.ofsaustralia.org.au

"Brother Fire" original painting by Christi M. Jentz, ©2017

Is God Calling You?

Do you feel an urge to do more than just attend weekly mass and say the occasional daily prayer? Do you feel God is calling you to a deeper living of your Catholic faith? If this is you then the Secular Franciscan Order is inviting you to journey with us and discern if you are being called to live a deeper gospel life in the footsteps of St .

Who Are We? What Is Our Mission? Secular Franciscans are ordinary lay Catholic men and women who follow Secular Franciscans aspire to imitate Christ in the footsteps of St Francis of Secular Franciscans desire to follow St Francis by placing Jesus at the Assisi. They come from all walks of life – Christ in the spirit of St Francis, who centre of their lives. They seek a spirit married, single, professional, students, himself is said to have been the most of detachment from temporal goods by diocesan clergy, young and old. Christ-like person to ever live after simplifying their own material needs. Jesus. By modeling their lives on the They manage what they own in a spirit St Francis of Assisi founded the Secular example shown by St Francis, Secular of stewardship for the benefit of all. Franciscan Order almost 800 years ago Franciscans strive to attain Christian They purify their hearts from the desire for lay members of the church, who, perfection by living in the image and of needless possessions, power and inspired by Francis also desired to live the likeness of Jesus. Through prayer, wealth, while cultivating the Franciscan Franciscan charism, however due to their contemplation and careful reading of spirit of peace, humility, fidelity and marital vocations, or their single status, the gospels Secular Franciscans live respect for all life. They seek to were not able to leave family life to join the out their Christian calling by going from become ‘Instruments of Peace’ in the first or second Franciscan orders ( gospel to life and life to gospel. world, and cultivate a love for all of Minors and Poor Clare nuns). In 1221 creation, endeavoring to find the Francis and his friend Cardinal Hugolino Francis showed us an example by imprint of God in all created things. (later Pope Gregory IX) wrote a Rule of life devoting himself to a life of poverty – for lay people to follow so as to live in desiring to live the same poverty of Secular Franciscans live out their union with the wider Franciscan family - Jesus. Through his total abandonment by remaining in the secular thus creating the secular order. of worldly goods Francis was able to world. It is through their families, their put Jesus at the centre of his life. There day-to-day work and activities that they Any Catholic adult aged 18 and above, he was filled with abundant spiritual seek Christ and serve God by serving who is not already associated with another riches and developed a sense of neighbour. It is through their work in order, is invited to seek admission into the perfect joy in his love for God, the secular world that they are Secular Franciscan Order. neighbour and all of creation. sanctified.