Formation Program

St. Francis of Assisi Fraternity
Formation Program

Beginning in June, interested individuals are interviewed by the Director of Formation. All of the appropriate documents are gathered. As part of the discernment process, each individual is invited to attend our summer gatherings and regular fraternity meetings or participate in one way or another in our Apostolic life such as the Flea Market or Special Ladies projects.

Classes begin in September and meet each month on the day of our general fraternity meeting. Classes are held from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. The formation classes then attend the 11:15 a.m. Liturgy with the rest of the Fraternity and participate in our fraternity meetings which include a Social, Business Meeting, Ongoing Formation, and Spiritual Life.

To help our new Inquirers become familiar with our Fraternity, a Formation Class Social is held in September. Each Inquirer, their Sponsor, Class Facilitators, and Council members are encouraged to attend.

Each individual in formation is assigned a professed member as a sponsor who walks through the formation process with the Inquirer or Candidate for the entire formation period. The individual in formation and their sponsor meet at least once each month. If a sponsor is unable to meet with their Inquirer or Candidate for any reason, a member of the Council will meet with that individual.

There are two facilitators for each level of classes.

Each class has their own Day of Recollection before moving up to the next level.

We welcome new Inquires during a Ceremony of Introduction and Welcoming at our general Fraternity meeting. At the Rite of Admission the Inquire expresses the desire to enter the Secular Franciscan Order before the whole community. Profession, or permanent commitment to the Gospel Life, is celebrated at Liturgy after completing 27 months of formation.

“Catch Me a Rainbow Too” is used for formation. Each individual is also encouraged to read other Franciscan books from our library or other documents of the SFO.

We join the First and Third Order Regular in renewing our commitment on April 16th each year.