(This article originally appeared in the TAU-USA Winter 2025 Issue #114)

by Sharon Winzeler
Communications Committee Chair

Think about the invitation you received to attend your first Secular Franciscan gathering. Did it come from a friend? Perhaps a fellow parishioner suggested you attend. Maybe you saw an announcement in the church bulletin. Or did your spiritual director suggest you check out the Franciscans? However it happened, that invitation led to your discernment to become a Secular Franciscan.

As we seek to expand vocations in the Order, we can reflect on our own calling for ways to engage others.

“We once had a spiritual assistant who said it’s all about the personal invitation – holding the door open and inviting people in,” said Ellen Ferrone, OFS, minister of the Brothers and Sisters of St. Francis Region. “He stressed guiding them to a place where their spirit might grow,” said Ellen.

She was talking about Fr. Steve Kluge, OFM, former spiritual assistant at the Padre Pio Fraternity in Raleigh, NC. His time as spiritual assistant led to the profession of 15 Secular Franciscans in 2023. Interest in the fraternity continues to grow with 12 candidates and a 15-member orientation class.

Brenda Schmitt, treasurer of Queen of Peace Region, said invitations contribute to the growth at the St. Mary Fraternity in Cedar Falls, IA. “Before 2016, there were only five active members in the St. Mary Fraternity. Since then, they had 13 people profess. Now there are four candidates who will profess in June and two more are in their fifth month of formation,” said Brenda.

How did the fraternity interest so many? They shared their experiences at a Christian Experiences Weekend (https://crcew.org). From that presentation, seven people visited the next monthly gathering and four eventually professed.

In addition, members of St. Mary Frances Fraternity in Bristol, CT, shared their experiences with prayer groups, Bible studies, priests, and deacons. Invitations were sent to members of social action committees in the surrounding parishes and announcements were placed in church bulletins. The fraternity also sponsored a retreat that was open to everyone. They are part of the Blessed Solanus Casey Region.

Janet Angelillo, OFS, regional minister of the Blessed Solanus Casey Region, said the Portiuncula Fraternity in Shrub Oak, NY, professed eight new members in 2022, and have five candidates preparing for profession this year.

“The reason for these vocations is that the fraternity meets in a very large parish and members are active in the parish. Members pray to discern who exhibits a Franciscan spirit and invite those people to their meetings. In addition, the fraternity holds other events open to surrounding parishes like a Sunday movie night featuring St. Francis, a crèche service, a midnight run, blessing of the animals, and a monthly Sunday Mass said for the intention of the fraternity.

“Personal invitation does seem to be the most successful way to attract new members,” Janet said.

The Blessed Solanus Casey Region has also established a “Vocations and Visibility” committee whose work is to meet with deaneries and dioceses to acquaint them with members of the Secular Franciscan Order.

What has your fraternity done to attract new vocations? Start with prayer, and then you may want to try some of the approaches that have worked in other fraternities, like those mentioned above.