About Secular Franciscan Order (OFS)
The Secular Franciscan Order (Ordo Franciscanus Saecularis, OFS) is the third branch of the Franciscan family founded by St. Francis of Assisi in 1221, made up of Catholic lay men and women — and secular clergy — who commit themselves to living the Gospel in the manner of St. Francis while remaining in their secular state. Governed by an approved Rule (last revised by Pope Paul VI in 1978 with Seraphicus Patriarcha) and General Constitutions confirmed by the Holy See on December 8, 2000, the OFS is a public association in the Church divided into local, regional, national, and international fraternities. As of the 2024 General Chapter the Order numbers roughly 200,000 professed Secular Franciscans plus about 60,000 Franciscan Youth (YouFra) in 115 countries, served by the international governing body CIOFS — Consilium Internationale Ordo Franciscanus Saecularis — seated in Rome. Pastoral and spiritual assistance is entrusted by the Holy See to the four branches of the First Order and TOR (OFM, OFM Cap, OFM Conv, TOR).
Mission
To live the Gospel of Jesus Christ in fraternal communion, following the example of St. Francis of Assisi, by observing the Rule of the Secular Franciscan Order and making Christ's love visible in the family, the workplace, civic life, and the care of creation. The OFS describes its purpose as: '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.' (Article 4 of the Rule)
- Founded
- 1221
- Founder
- St. Francis of Assisi (with the assistance of Cardinal Ugolino di Conti, later Pope Gregory IX)
- Leader
- Tibor Kauser, OFS — Minister General of the Secular Franciscan Order (CIOFS), re-elected for 2021–2027 at the XVI General Chapter
- Reach
- Roughly 200,000 professed Secular Franciscans worldwide, plus about 60,000 Franciscan Youth (YouFra). Present in 115 countries (as reported by Minister General Tibor Kauser at the 2024 General Chapter): 70 constituted National Fraternities, 21 emerging national fraternities, 20 places where the OFS has a presence, and 4 special cases under direct care of the CIOFS Presidency. Governed at four levels: local, regional, national, and international (CIOFS, headquartered in Rome). In 2021 the Order reported 173,719 members across 112 countries with 70 constituted and 18 emerging national fraternities plus a presence in another 24 countries.
- Serves
- Practicing Catholic lay men and women, deacons, priests, and bishops who feel called to follow the Gospel in the manner of St. Francis of Assisi while remaining in their secular state — together with Franciscan Youth (YouFra) ages and Catholic youth groups connected to OFS fraternities. The Order is open to any Catholic in good standing, at least 18 years of age, not bound by vows to another religious order. (Catholics of non-Roman rites are welcome; Anglicans/Episcopalians are directed to the Third Order Society of St. Francis, and other Christians to the Order of Ecumenical Franciscans.)
What is the Secular Franciscan Order (OFS)?
The Secular Franciscan Order (Latin: Ordo Franciscanus Saecularis) is a public association of the Catholic Church made up of lay men and women, together with secular clergy (deacons, priests, and bishops), who profess a Rule of life in order to observe the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the manner of St. Francis of Assisi while remaining fully in the world. It is the third branch of the Franciscan family, alongside the First Order of Friars Minor and the Second Order of Poor Ladies (Poor Clares). Members live out their vocation in their ordinary life-situations — in family, work, parish, and civic society — supported by ecclesial communities called fraternities at the local, regional, national, and international levels. The Order is governed by its Rule, the General Constitutions, the Ritual, and the particular Statutes, and is pastorally assisted by the four branches of the Franciscan First Order and the Third Order Regular (OFM, OFM Cap, OFM Conv, TOR).
- Founded 1221 by St. Francis of Assisi
- Public association in the Church with juridical personality at every level
- Open to lay men and women and to secular clergy of every rite in communion with Rome
- Profession is a lifelong commitment to live the Gospel after the manner of St. Francis
The Rule of the Secular Franciscan Order
The current Rule of the Secular Franciscan Order was approved by Pope Paul VI on June 24, 1978, with the apostolic letter Seraphicus Patriarcha, after ten years of joint work by the four Franciscan First Order and TOR Ministers General. It was prepared in response to the changed conditions of the times and the teaching of the Second Vatican Council. Article 1 places the OFS within the Franciscan family; Article 2 opens the Order to the laity and the secular clergy; and Article 4 — the heart of the Rule — sets out the form of life: '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 Rule calls Secular Franciscans to 'careful reading of the gospel, going from gospel to life and life to the gospel.' Earlier rules include the Memoriale Propositi of 1221 (Pope Honorius III), Supra montem of 1289 (Pope Nicholas IV), and Misericors Dei Filius of 1883 (Pope Leo XIII).
- Rule of 1978 (Seraphicus Patriarcha, Pope Paul VI) — current
- Memoriale Propositi, 1221 — primitive rule
- Supra montem, 1289 — Pope Nicholas IV revision
- Misericors Dei Filius, 1883 — Pope Leo XIII revision
- General Constitutions confirmed December 8, 2000
- Ritual of the Secular Franciscan Order (Latin and vernacular editions)
History and Origins
The Order began in 1221 when St. Francis of Assisi, with the help of his friend Cardinal Ugolino di Conti (later Pope Gregory IX), drew up a form of life for lay men and women, including married couples, who wanted to follow the Franciscan way while remaining in the world. The primitive document — the Memoriale Propositi — was approved by Pope Honorius III that same year. The earliest Franciscan texts inspiring the Third Order are the 'Earlier Exhortation' and the 'Later Exhortation' of the Letter to All the Faithful, found in the Guarnacci Library in Volterra and believed to have been composed before 1215 and by about 1220. Tradition suggests the Third Order was first introduced either in Florence (favored by Mariano of Florence) or in Faenza (the earliest papal bull on the subject is the Bull for Faenza of 16 December 1221). The Chiesa della Buona Morte in Cannara (the 'Church of the Good Death', formerly the Church of the Stigmata of S. Francesco) and the Church of S. Francesco in Cannara both claim to be the birthplace of the Third Order. Over the centuries the Order — known originally as the Brothers and Sisters of Penance — became a force in medieval life, caring for lepers and outcasts, mediating disputes, and exempting male members from civic military service because the Rule forbade the bearing of arms.
- 1221 — Primitive Rule (Memoriale Propositi) approved by Pope Honorius III
- 1289 — Pope Nicholas IV issues Supra montem
- 1883 — Pope Leo XIII issues Misericors Dei Filius
- 1978 — Pope Paul VI issues Seraphicus Patriarcha (current Rule)
- 1999 — General Chapter approves present Constitutions
- 2000 — Holy See confirms Constitutions (Decree of December 8, 2000)
Spirituality and Way of Life
Secular Franciscan spirituality centers on the person and Gospel of Jesus Christ, contemplated through the example and writings of St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi. Members are called to ongoing conversion, to prayer centered on the Eucharist and the Liturgy of the Hours, to careful reading of the Gospel, to peacemaking, and to care for the poor, the sick, and all of creation. The Rule and the General Constitutions describe the Secular Franciscan as a 'brother or sister of penance,' called to 'bring life to the Gospel and the Gospel to life' in the daily circumstances of family, work, and society. Four pillars guide the lived spirituality — Spirituality, Formation, Fraternity, and Apostolate — and the JPIC 'BE-Attitudes' are used to evaluate how deeply members are living the Franciscan charism in the world.
The Five Focus Areas of the Rule
Article 15 of the Rule urges Secular Franciscans 'to be in the forefront in promoting justice' through 'definite choices in harmony with their faith,' and Article 19 calls them 'bearers of peace' who 'seek out ways of unity and fraternal harmony through dialogue.' In the United States, the National Fraternity has organized the Rule's apostolic impulse into five areas of focus: ecology, family, peace and justice, work, and youth/young adults. Members and fraternities are encouraged — but not required — to undertake a common apostolate in addition to personal apostolic works, in keeping with local needs and the gifts of the fraternity.
- Ecology — care for creation, Laudato Si'
- Family — Articles 22–26 of the Rule
- Peace and Justice — JPIC animation
- Work — sanctification of daily labor
- Youth / Young Adults — Franciscan Youth (YouFra)
Formation: How One Becomes a Secular Franciscan
Initial formation in the Secular Franciscan Order is a journey of gradual initiation and lifelong discernment, governed by Article 23 of the Rule and Article 37 of the General Constitutions. It is more than the giving and receiving of information: it is a period of personal transformation assisted by fraternity life, prayer, and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The process unfolds in three formal stages before profession, followed by ongoing formation for life.
- Orientation — minimum ~3 months (some fraternities allow 3–6 months): dialogue, introduction to St. Francis and St. Clare, the Franciscan prayer life, and mutual discernment
- Inquiry — minimum 6 months: in-depth study of the Franciscan charism, history, and what it means to be secular and Franciscan
- Candidacy — minimum 18 months (not more than 3 years): immersion in fraternity life and preparation for permanent commitment; culminates in the Rite of Profession of the Rule
- Ongoing Formation — lifelong: continued study, retreat, and growth in the Franciscan vocation after profession
Apostolates, Ministries and JPIC (Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation)
Every Secular Franciscan is expected to live an apostolic, service-oriented dimension of life, and many local fraternities undertake a common apostolate inspired by their local context. The Order's international and national JPIC commissions support this work. According to the U.S. National Fraternity's Handbook for JPIC Animators, Secular Franciscans engage in a remarkable range of works: soup kitchens, food pantries, Catholic Charities, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Habitat for Humanity, Bread for the World, Catholic Worker Houses, prison ministry, re-entry programs for women, hospital chaplaincy, medical missions, blood drives, pro-life causes, immigrant and refugee accompaniment, advocacy for migrants and against racism and xenophobia, restorative justice, nonviolent action, interfaith dialogue (including 'The Sultan and the Saint' programs), care for creation (Laudato Si' study, community gardening, beekeeping, solar panels, Monarch butterfly habitat, recycling), and the observance of the International Day of Peace (September 21).
- JPIC — Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation
- Care for Creation / Ecology (Laudato Si')
- Family Ministry
- Youth and Young Adult Ministry (with YouFra)
- Prison Ministry and Restorative Justice
- Care for the Sick, Hospital Chaplaincy
- Soup Kitchens, Food Pantries, Catholic Charities, St. Vincent de Paul
- Habitat for Humanity, Bread for the World, Catholic Worker Houses
- Pro-Life Advocacy
- Migrant and Refugee Ministry
- Pace e Bene / Campaign Nonviolence
- Franciscan Action Network, Franciscans International
Franciscan Youth (YouFra)
Franciscan Youth (Gioventù Francescana, 'YouFra') is the youth branch of the Franciscan family connected to the OFS, present in 65 countries with more than 22,000 members registered in fraternities (of whom approximately 700 are also professed members of the OFS). The XVI and XVII General Chapters confirmed the continued care and animation of YouFra, which is represented on the CIOFS Presidency by a Franciscan Youth Councillor (currently Luis Félix Chocojay, OFS, of Guatemala). YouFra members gather at regional, national, and international events, including World Youth Day.
Organization and Government (CIOFS)
The international government of the Secular Franciscan Order is the Consilium Internationale Ordo Franciscanus Saecularis (CIOFS), seated in Rome at Via Vittorio Putti, 4, Int. 6, 00152. The International Council, convened in General Chapter, is the highest governing body and meets in Elective General Chapter every six years. The Presidency is the elected executive body. The current Presidency (2021–2027) was elected at the XVI General Chapter, with an additional year served due to COVID-19.
- Minister General — Tibor Kauser, OFS (Hungary)
- Vice-Minister General — Mary T. (Maria Teresa) Stronach, OFS (USA)
- Presidency Councilors: Francis Park OFS (South Korea / Asia-Oceania), Adolph Assagba OFS (Togo / Francophone Africa and Islands), Eremenciana Chinyama OFS (Zimbabwe / English & Portuguese-speaking Africa), Dina Shabalina OFS (Ukraine / North Europe), Noemi Paola Riccardi OFS (Italy / Southern Europe & Mediterranean), Ana María Raffo OFS (Peru / Central and North America), Silvia Noemí Diana OFS (Argentina / South America)
- Franciscan Youth Councilor — Luis Félix Chocojay, OFS (Guatemala)
- General Spiritual Assistants: Fr. Pedro Zitha OFM; Fr. Tomás Ginga Panzo Suva OFM Cap; Fr. Ștefan Acatrinei OFM Conv; Fr. Guadalupe Antonio Hernandez Huerta TOR
- Secretary — Isabella Di Paola, OFS
- Treasurer — Roberto Falzago, OFS
- Three permanent CIOFS secretariats: Formation; JPIC; Communications
- Commissions: Juridical and Patrimonial; Franciscan Youth; Economic
General Chapter and Recent Assemblies
The most recent General Chapter — the XVII (Elective) — was held in November 2024 in Rome. It adopted the theme 'For an Order of 200,000, living the Gospel is the way to the future' and received the Minister General's report on the state of the Order. The XVI General Chapter (2021) had adopted the theme 'Animate and guide with servant leadership' and had committed the Order to priorities in formation, JPIC, family, youth, communications, and fraternity. The CIOFS Presidency, which had served an additional year due to COVID-19, led the Order through a seven-year period between elective chapters.
Communications and Publications
The Order communicates with its members and the wider public through the international website (ciofs.info), the English-language newsletter voxFranciscanA edited by Robert Stronach, OFS, periodic e-newsletters, the JPIC Bulletin, official circulars, formation manuals (including the FUN Manual and The Franciscan Journey), and an extensive library of official documents, rules, rituals, and formation resources available in multiple languages.
- ciofs.info — international website
- voxFranciscanA — international newsletter
- CIOFS E-newsletter
- JPIC Bulletin
- OFS Rule, General Constitutions, Ritual, International Statutes
- FUN Manual — formation handbook
- The Franciscan Journey
- Handbook for Animators of JPIC (2018 Revised)
Where the OFS Is Found (Local Fraternities and Regions)
Secular Franciscans gather in local fraternities that meet monthly for formation, prayer, fraternity, and apostolic planning. Local fraternities are grouped into regional and national fraternities, each with its own Minister (or Regional/National Minister) and Council. National Fraternities draw up their own Statutes, which are approved by the Presidency of CIOFS. Examples of national sites include the Secular Franciscan Order, USA (secularfranciscansusa.org) and the Secular Franciscan Order Australia (ofsaustralia.org.au). Local fraternities often identify themselves by their patron saint and location — e.g. St. Joseph Cupertino Fraternity.
Getting Involved: Joining, Donating, Contacting the Order
An actively practicing Catholic of any rite in communion with Rome who senses a call to follow St. Francis in the world is invited to contact a local Secular Franciscan fraternity and begin the three-stage formation journey. Those who are not Catholic may be directed to the Third Order Society of St. Francis (Anglican/Episcopal) or the Order of Ecumenical Franciscans. The international secretariat of the Order is open to inquiries from those seeking a fraternity near them, from those interested in supporting the Order's mission, and from members of the press. In the United States, donations and inquiries are coordinated through the National Fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order, USA.
- Contact a local fraternity to begin Orientation
- Email the CIOFS secretariat at [email protected]
- Telephone: +39 06 4547 1722
- Fax: +39 06 4547 3094
- Mail: Segreteria CIOFS, Via Vittorio Putti, 4, Int. 6, 00152 Rome, Italy
- In the U.S., contact the Secular Franciscan Order, USA via secularfranciscansusa.org
