Welcome...May the Lord grant you His peace!
On the first Pentecost, the Holy Spirit released special gifts / charisms to the Catholic Church. Just like ice cream comes in multiple different flavors; the Catholic Church is gifted with many different “flavors” / spiritualities too.
Purpose of The Site
The universal call to holiness, declared by Vatican II, is something that every Secular Franciscan needs to live out. Since the majority of members of the OFS are laity, they need to know their faith and the issues facing the world, in order to sanctify society. Throughout Church history, men and women have been trying to find different ways to become closer to Jesus, and live a saintly life.
For example, St. Francis of Assisi established the Franciscan Order; in order to encourage people to live a life of simplicity, while the Dominicans were established by St. Dominic; to be dedicated to preaching. Each of the orders in the Catholic Church; which we have today, were established to focus on specific needs of a specific age.
This site, is dedicated to the third branch of the Franciscan family tree, which is known as Third Order Franciscans. St. Francis of Assisi created the Franciscan Third Order, and thanks to his inspiration many other religious orders were inspired to add a third branch to their family trees as well. The name Secular Franciscan Order and the Order of Franciscans Secular (OFS), are also terms used by the Church to classify the third branch of the Franciscan family tree. The Holy Spirit is still alive in the Church today after Pentecost, and is working hard in calling all members of the Mystical Body of Christ, to rebuild Jesus' Church.
This site is a personal ministry of a Third Order Franciscan, named Nick Kovacs, OFS. The purpose of Nick's ministry is to provide information about the Secular Franciscan Order, and how to grow within ones Catholic faith, so that a Culture of Life can be created. It is the hope of Nick, that this site will richly bless & inspire all Catholics, not just Franciscans, to live the Gospel and spread the Good News to all the ends of the Earth!
The universal call to holiness, declared by Vatican II, is something that every Secular Franciscan needs to live out. Since the majority of members of the OFS are laity, they need to know their faith and the issues facing the world, in order to sanctify society. Throughout Church history, men and women have been trying to find different ways to become closer to Jesus, and live a saintly life.
For example, St. Francis of Assisi established the Franciscan Order; in order to encourage people to live a life of simplicity, while the Dominicans were established by St. Dominic; to be dedicated to preaching. Each of the orders in the Catholic Church; which we have today, were established to focus on specific needs of a specific age.
This site, is dedicated to the third branch of the Franciscan family tree, which is known as Third Order Franciscans. St. Francis of Assisi created the Franciscan Third Order, and thanks to his inspiration many other religious orders were inspired to add a third branch to their family trees as well. The name Secular Franciscan Order and the Order of Franciscans Secular (OFS), are also terms used by the Church to classify the third branch of the Franciscan family tree. The Holy Spirit is still alive in the Church today after Pentecost, and is working hard in calling all members of the Mystical Body of Christ, to rebuild Jesus' Church.
This site is a personal ministry of a Third Order Franciscan, named Nick Kovacs, OFS. The purpose of Nick's ministry is to provide information about the Secular Franciscan Order, and how to grow within ones Catholic faith, so that a Culture of Life can be created. It is the hope of Nick, that this site will richly bless & inspire all Catholics, not just Franciscans, to live the Gospel and spread the Good News to all the ends of the Earth!
Are You Called To The OFS?
Are you an 18 or older Catholic, who is single or married? Do you have a desire for living a life of simplicity? Have you ever felt a desire to join a fraternal society in the Catholic Church? Do you have a special love for nature, the Eucharist, Mary, and for helping out the poor? If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, our Lord Jesus Christ might be calling you to live the Gospel in the spirituality of St. Francis of Assisi, and to become part of the Franciscan family through the Secular Franciscan Order (Third Order Franciscan). Secular Franciscans are laypeople and diocesan clergy who follow the Rule of the Secular Franciscans in living the Gospel in the spirit of St. Francis and St. Clare. The Secular Franciscan Order (OFS) is for single, married and priests who are not already members of another religious or secular order. One must be at least 18 years of age, and a practicing Catholic, who is faithful to the teaching of the Catholic Church and loyal to the Apostolic See. Secular Franciscans, by virtue of their solemn promise, are required to observe the Rule of the Secular Franciscan Order, approved by the Church (St. Pope Paul VI, 1978). |
Fraternity Locator
To learn more about the OFS, and to find the closest fraternity in the country that you reside in, check out the international OFS site. Further Enrichment Also, please check out the numerous hyperlinks throughout every page. Many of these embedded hyperlinks cover the teachings of the Catholic faith and what it means to be a Franciscan. To further enrich your faith, and live out the Franciscan charism, follow the EWTN Facebook page below. |
