SFO Meet and Greet

Welcome and thank you for your interest in the Secular Franciscans!  Please find more information about us below.  If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to one of us.

Carrie Stiernagle (Formation Director): 507-383-8043 or [email protected]
Sandy Tuszynski (Minister): 507-829-0989
Amanda Oney (Spiritual Assistant): 507-530-2573

1. To live the gospel according to the spirit of St. Francis (Articles 1, 4, 5, 14)
2. To be converted continually (Articles 2, 4, 5, 9, 12, 16)
3. To live as sisters and brothers of all people and of all creation (Articles 13, 18)
4. To live in communion with Christ (Articles 1, 4, 5, 14)
5. To follow the poor and crucified Christ (Article 10)
6. To share in the life and mission of the Church (Article 6)
7. To share in the love of the Father (Articles 4, 12)
8. To be instruments of peace (Article 19)
9. To have a life of prayer that is personal, communal, and liturgical (Article 8)
10. To live in joy (Article 19:2)
11. To have a spirituality of a secular nature (Articles 3, 6, 8, 11, 13, 14)
12. To be pilgrims on the way toward the father (Article 11:2)
13. To participate in the apostolate of the laity (Articles 15-19, 24)
14. To be at the service of the less fortunate (Articles 13-15)
15. To be loyal to the Church in an attitude of dialogue and collaboration with her minister (Article 6:2)
16. To be open to the action of the Holy Spririt (Articles 1, 4:2)
17. To live in simplicity, humility, and minority (Article11:1)

The process to become a secular Franciscan takes time to discern if this vocation is right for you.  There are 3 steps in this process and we will be there to help along the way.  The first step, Orientation, will be June 9th at 1:00 pm.

• Orientation
  • minumum of 3 months
  • reviewing the Journey book to learn more about the process and Franciscan organization
• Inquiry 
  • minumum of 6 months
  • continue through the Journey book
  • other resources are reviewed as well- Liturgy of the Hours, Franciscan Crown Rosary, amongst others
  • start gathering sacramental certificates (baptism, confirmation, marriage, etc.) 
  • a short interview and letter for candidacy will complete this phase
• Candidacy
  •  minimum of 18 months
  • complete the Journey book
  • letter for Candidacy needs to be completed prior to this phase beginning
  • letter for admission will need to be completed before this phase ends
  • all sacramental documents need to be handed in
  • a spiritual retreat will be held prior to profession
  • Profession into the Secular Franciscans will complete this phase

To profess the Catholic faith, to live in communion with the Church, to be of good moral standing, and to show clear signs of a vocation.

Secular Franciscans like all other members of the Franciscan family, have the vocation to follow Christ by living in poverty, fraternity, and minority according to their state and profession in life.  Through poverty (a spirit of detachment) they witness to the things that are above rather than the things below; through fraternity they grow in acceptance of each other as brothers and sisters in Christ; through minority they recognize their own human imperfections and attest to the truth that they are called to serve rather than to be served.