Who We Are

The rule and life of the Secular Franclscan is: to observe the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ by following the example of St Francis of Assisi, who made Christ the inspiration and the center of his life with God and people. Christ , the gift of the Father ’s Love

is the way to Him, the Truth into which the Holy Spirit leads us

and the Life He had come to give abundantly

The process of formation normally takes 2 ½ years and is divided into three stages: • Orientation: An initial exploration of the SFO (Onlooker) • Inquiry: A time of discernment • Candidacy: Journey with the Fraternity to find out if God is calling you to live the Franciscan way of life. ________________________ For further information about the Secular Franciscan Order, please contact: Don Grant, sfo @ 604.922.4093, Jewel Jasmins sfo @ 604.594.0984, or by email: dongrant@telus.net website: www.sfovancouver.ca

PRAYER for PEACE

Lord, make me an instrument of Your Peace

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light

Where there is sadness, Joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may seek

Not so much to be consoled as to console:

To be understood as to understand; to be

Loved as to love; for it is in giving

That we receive; it is in pardoning that

We are pardoned, and it is in dying

That we are born to Eternal Life. Amen

The Secular Franciscan Order

Living the Gospel in today’s world

St. Francis of Assisi Fraternity

Monthly Meetings:

Third Sunday of each month 1:10 pm - 4:00 pm

St. Francis of Assisi Church 2025 Napier Street

Vancouver, B.C. V3L 2N8

Come follow the Gospel of Jesus Christ

In the Footsteps of St Francis

St Clare & St Francis

OUR HISTORY

St Francis of Assisi, the Saint known and loved the world over, was born at Assisi, in central Italy, in the year 1181, the son of a wealthy merchant. He died there in 1226, after a life in Christ that earned him the title "Poverello" - little poor man. As a youth, like many young people today, Francis "discovered" Jesus. He found Him in the Gospel, poor and suffering. Francis made up his mind to identify himself with his crucified Lord. In the words of Pope Pius XI, "So lifelike and strikingly did the image of Jesus Christ and the Gospel manner of life shine forth in Francis, that he appeared to his contemporaries almost as though he were the Risen Christ.”

Saint Francis attained this marvelous ideal by making the Holy Gospel, in every detail, the rule and standard of his life.

Others wanted to live as Francis lived, men and women, single and married. These followers became the Franciscan Family.

Friars (First Order): Priests and Brothers who live in community with vows.

Poor Clare's (Second Order): Cloistered women who live in a contemplative community with vows.

SECULAR FRANCISCANS (Third Order)

Lay people and Diocesan Clergy living Gospel simplicity in their homes, promising to follow the Rule of the Secular Franciscans, and to live the Gospel in the spirit of St. Francis.

Way of Life: The simple Gospel way of life of St. Francis of Assisi attracted a vast number of lay people and Diocesan Clergy. They received direction from Francis and were known as the "Brothers and Sisters of Penance". Receiving an official Rule in 1238, they were called "The Third Order of 8t Francis" and today we are known as the "Secular Franciscan Order".

Prayer Life: Secular Franciscans are to pray daily, imitating the prayer life of Francis. He put great emphasis on the "spirit of prayer and devotion". The intense, simple and spontaneous nature of his prayer is summarized in his famous prayer:

“My God and My All

Franciscan Fraternity: Secular Franciscans assemble frequently as a true spiritual family called "Fraternity". We gather together as a community of faith, to rekindle our Franciscan ideals and to receive nourishment for our spiritual journey; to share our struggles and celebrate our successes. Franciscan Apostolate: As a Lay Order, the Secular Franciscan Order stresses conversion, seeking Christian perfection first. The second basic but equally essential aim is the personal and social apostolate. Secular Franciscans are expected to be active in their Parishes and to give special care to working in six areas that should be concerns for every Christian today: Family Work Peace and Justice Youth Ecumenism Ecology We are called to be messengers of Peace, Joy and Hope to our families and to society by the example of our daily lives.