Ordo Franciscanus Saecularis

A report by Kelly Moltzen, OFS, USA New and exciting initiatives, like the Great Green Wall across 11 African countries, were addressed at the The Laudato Si Generation Conference held in Nairobi, Kenya July 15 and 16. It focused on the role of faith and religion in the care for our common home, the role … Laudato Si Generation Conference Focuses on Care for Common Home Read More » ...

Swiss Secular Franciscan Marguerite Bays was elevated to sainthood on Oct. 13, 2019, along with four others.  A native of Siviriez in the western Swiss canton of Fribourg, Bays belonged to the Third Order of St. Francis of Assisi. Born in 1815, she was a laywoman from a farming background who dedicated herself to God. She worked as a seamstress, domestic help and … Swiss Secular Franciscan Is Canonized Read More » ...

ROME — Fr. Amando Trujillo Cano, TOR, who served as general spiritual assistant for the OFS and YouFra for the past six years, was elected minister general of the Third Order Regular (TOR) on June 9, 2019. He succeeded Fr. Nicholas Polichnowski. A musician and song writer, Father Amando was known for bringing his gift … Fr. Amando Trujillo Cano Is the New TOR Minister General Read More » ...

Calling it their “Beatitudes” Chapter, Secular Franciscans in Great Britain held a Chapter of Mats June 21-23, 2019, to mark the close of the year celebrating the 40th anniversary of the OFS Rule approved by Pope Blessed Paul VI in 1978. National Minister Betsy Hart, OFS, described the chapter’s theme: “The essence of our Franciscan … Great Britain Holds ‘Beatitudes’ Chapter Read More » ...

The OFS National Fraternity of Burkina Faso in West Africa celebrated its Elective Chapter on September 7, 2019. Denis Poda was elected national minister and international councilor. ...

The National Fraternity of Cameroon celebrated its elective chapter from August 22 to 24, 2019, at the home of the Xaverian Fathers of Ngodi Bakoko in Douala. The chapter identified five priority themes to be implemented by the new council, including a commitment to form a National YouFra Fraternity. Genesis Ngwambi was re-confirmed as national … Cameroon Re-Confirms Minister Read More » ...

The OFS National Fraternity of Slovakia celebrated its Elective Chapter from August 30 to September 1, 2019. Jozef Gazdik was elected national minister and Lucia Spodniakova as international councilor. ...

The Secular Franciscan Order (OFS) is celebrating the 800th anniversary of the birth of Blessed Umiliana de’ Cerchi, a Franciscan tertiary who lived and died in Florence, Italy (1219-1246). She was proclaimed blessed in 1694. Festivities took place throughout 2019, thanks to the Friars Minor Conventual at the Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence. The … 800th Anniversary of Blessed Umiliana de’ Cerchi in 2019 Read More » ...

NISIPORESTI, ROMANIA — A 22-year-old Romanian Secular Franciscan – Veronica Antal – was beatified Sept. 23, 2018 as a “martyr to chastity,” six decades after she was murdered while fighting off a would-be rapist during the Communist-era repression of the Catholic Church. Catholic News Service reported that Cardinal Angelo Becciu, prefect of the Vatican Congregation … Secular Franciscan is beatified – Veronica Antal of Romania Read More » ...

The Secular Franciscan Order participated in all the preparatory phases of the beatification ceremony. For the great Franciscan family – 1,000 secular and religious — it was a moment to live fraternal joy in one communityduring three days of pilgrimage: 13, 14, 15 April 2018.  The pilgrimage began at a church near where Lucien lived … Secular Franciscan is beatified – School teacher Lucien Botovasoa of Madagascar Read More » ...

By Virginija Mickute, OFS, and Monika Midveryte, OFS MARCH 2019 — The “Well4Africa” project, flowing out of the 3rd European OFS and YouFra Congress in Lithuania last year, is moving ahead in various phases in Malawi, Uganda and Zimbabwe. ...

The Secular Franciscan Order belongs to the Franciscan Family and is “formed by the organic union of all the Catholic fraternities, whose members, moved by the Holy Spirit, commit themselves through profession to live the Gospel after the manner of St. Francis in their secular state following the Rule approved by the Church” (Const. 1,3). … The Secular Franciscan Order Read More » ...