Secular Franciscan Order (SFO)
The Secular Franciscan Order
St. Rose of Viterbo Fraternity
Minister, Carlos Montanez, SFO
Spiritual Assistant, Friar Cyprian Uline, OFM, Conv.
Fraternity meetings are held twice a month, on Sundays at 12:30 pm (12:00 pm during the summer), in the Gregorian Room of the Parish Center.
The Secular Franciscan Order was founded by St. Francis for lay men and women (married and single) who seek to follow Christ in the footsteps of St. Francis. Members promise to strive to live out the Gospel in the world, guided by the Rule of the Secular Franciscan Order.
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This rule has evolved over the years, with the approval of several Popes, from the original one published in the year 1221 by the Church to formalize St. Francis's Exhortation to the Brothers and Sisters of Penance. The SFO is a canonical Order of the Roman Catholic Church--not a club or a parish committee. Long known as the Third Order of St. Francis, SFOs have been called Secular Franciscans since Pope Paul VI approved the Rule of the Secular Franciscan Order in 1978. There are 288,000 SFO’s worldwide; nearly 16,000 in the U.S.A., and 340 in Indiana.
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Together and in fraternity, SFOs pray the Liturgy of the Hours, the Rosary, read and study the life and writings of St. Francis, and daily renew their promise of penance: turning towards God and away from sin.
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SFOs are ordinary, everyday people who want to deepen their prayer life, draw closer to God, and do it--as brothers and sisters-- with our many different skills and talents as well as faults and failings.
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St. Rose of Viterbo Fraternity monthly meetings include praying the Liturgy of the Hours, lively discussions of our study of St. Francis, his writings, and his particular interests: poverty, Our Lady, humility, penance, and their meaning in today's world. There is a brief business meeting, and naturally, food, fellowship and fun.
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St. Francis did not require any specific religious practices, so people's prayer lives vary--reading the Scriptures. praying the Rosary or the Franciscan Crown Rosary, praying the Liturgy of the Hours, and attending daily Masses. Our apostolates also are as varied as we are: ecology, peace and justice, Samaritan committee work, Hospice, and work with youth, the aged and children.
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To become a Secular Franciscan you must be a Catholic in good standing with the Church. St. Rose of Viterbo Fraternity is part of Our Lady of Indiana Region of the SFO Indiana (from Interstate 70 to Lake Michigan) and welcomes members from within and beyond the parish.
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For additional information or to attend a meeting, please contact the Minister or Spiritual Assistant.