Our Lady of Indiana Regional Fraternity

Regional Guidelines  and   Directory

SFO Sharing Guides by Fr. John Sullivan, OFM

USA National Fraternity

Secular Franciscan Order Home Page

SFO Rule  and  General Constitutions

Franciscan Archives

Franciscan & Catholic links

Franciscan Calendar of Saints & Blesseds PLEASE BE AWARE OF THE  DIFFERENT TIME ZONES IN INDIANA Current Indianapolis date & time:   2010 REGIONAL CALENDAR OF EVENTS

FEB 13  10:00AM  REGIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING - KOKOMO

APR 10  10:00AM  SPRING CHAPTER OF MATS/ELECTIONS - KOKOMO

JUN 12  10:00AM  REGIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING - KOKOMO

AUG 14  11:00AM  ANNUAL UNITY DAY - KOKOMO

SEP 11  10:30AM  FORMATION WORKSHOP - KOKOMO

OCT 9   10:00AM  REGIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING - KOKOMO

NOV 13  10:00AM  FALL CHAPTER OF MATS - KOKOMO

2012 QUINQUENNIAL - JULY 3-8 - SUBURBAN CHICAGO

UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED, ALL MEETINGS ARE HELD AT  ST. JOAN OF ARC PARISH, KOKOMO.  MAP

How may we be of service?

May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May He show His face to you and have mercy.
May He turn His countenance to you and give you peace.
May the Lord bless you.

Pax et bonum!

 

Is God calling you to the Secular Franciscan Order?

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 of the lives of St. Francis and St. Clare. During Inquiry you will learn about the Franciscan charism and Franciscan history. 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.

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 and culminates in permanent commitment to the gospel life.