Secular Franciscans bring faith into the heart and the world

From left, Barry McNamara, Malu Sanchez, Leonor Luna and Carolyne Bosque at their rite of profession Oct. 6 at St. Charles Church, San Carlos. The four joined the Secular Franciscan Order, which is dedicated to laity and diocesan clergy living out the Gospel according to the example of St. Francis. (Photo by Nicholas Wolfram Smith/Catholic San Francisco) 

Oct. 21, 2019
Nicholas Wolfram Smith

Four lay Catholics committed themselves to an 800-year-old spiritual tradition that continues to nourish faith in the modern world when they joined the Secular Franciscan Order.  

Carolyne Bosque, Leonor Luna, Barry McNamara and Malu Sanchez entered the Mt. Alverna Fraternity of the Secular Franciscans Sunday, Oct. 6 during Mass at St. Charles Church in San Carlos. During their rite of profession, the four promised to live the Gospel in imitation of St. Francis and follow the rule of the Secular Francisan Order.  

Joanne Dobrzynski, a spiritual assistant with the order, said the order continues to attract interest because “you find brothers and sisters who understand how you want to live your spiritual life. When we come together to pray or do good works, there’s a comfort and connection there that helps us to live our baptismal promises through the lens of Franciscan life.” 

The Secular Franciscan Order is a religious order open to lay men and women and diocesan priests and deacons with about 350,000 members worldwide. The formation process for joining takes about two and a half years: After a period of inquiry, people become candidates for six months and then do a further 18 months of study to prepare for membership in the order. Its members do not wear habits and continue to live in the world, rather than joining a monastery or convent. 

The order was founded by St. Francis in 1221. Dobrzynski said the saint established it so that laity could participate in the order’s spirituality and also to make sure that the Franciscan spirituality would never disappear from the world. 

Dobrzynski said St. Francis originally called the Secular Franciscans “brothers and sisters of penance,” not in the sense of “being on your knees praying but transforming the world for the better through helping individuals and the poor.”

She said the order’s charism takes the form of charitable works, caring for creation, and promoting peace and the dignity of all people. 

“There are beautiful people who come from so many walks of life, but every single one found something in Francis,” she said. 

During the rite of profession, new members receive three gifts: a Bible, the San Damiano crucifix and a candle. Dobrzynski said the Bible reminds members that the Franciscan charism is “bringing life to the gospel and the gospel to life.” The crucifix is a unique Franciscan symbol of Christ speaking to Francis and asking him to rebuild his church and represents members of the order aligning themselves to Christ through the Franciscan charism. The candle, which is lit during the profession, is a reminder of baptism and of life in Christ.

Barry McNamara said he found in the fraternity a supportive community dedicated to becoming holier at a time when he was for looking for a change in how he practiced his faith. 

“I wanted to find something in my life that would adopt the Franciscan spirit a little more -- become a kinder person, more outgoing to other people. It’s been good for me and for my family,” he said. 

For Malu Sanchez, the Secular Franciscans are a sign of the diversity of ways to deepen faith in God. Sanchez said each person has a “channel” to go to and understand God that finds its expression in different movements and orders within the church.

“That’s what St. Francis is for me: it was the Holy Spirit who guided me and he is working with me to do my part to grow the kingdom of God,” she said. 

Sanchez said she found in the order “an opportunity to grow and do more than just go to church on Sundays” and make her faith more concrete. With a background in engineering, she said her experience of God tended to be very formal and intellectual.

“Francis helped to get (faith) with my heart,” she said. “It’s a big difference, it’s very practical: Francis is always action, let’s do it.”  

The breadth of the community she found in the Franciscans has also been important, she said. “It helps me a lot to realize I’m not alone -- the Franciscan family isn’t this small group, it’s in California, the US, worldwide, all skin colors, all languages. It was beautiful to see the family of St. Francis is huge!” 

To learn more about the local fraternity of Secular Franciscans, contact joanne4708@aol.com