Perhaps you’ve heard of the “Secular Franciscans” at St. Francis, and thought, “I wonder what that is? Are they some sort of friar?” Secular Franciscans are ‘secular’, meaning not bound by the full monastic rule of the Franciscans, but are those called to live the Gospel in their daily lives through prayer, contemplation, fraternity, and active service in the world. While not fully committed to adherence to the Rule as brothers and friars, the Secular Franciscan Padre Pio Fraternity at St. Francis is a community of laymen and women who truly do belong to the Franciscan Order within the Catholic Church. The Secular Franciscans were founded by St. Francis of Assisi himself more than 800 years ago. Members remain fully engaged in family life, work, and society, but focus on seeking to follow Christ in these ordinary circumstances according to the Franciscan way of life.
“At St. Francis Parish,” says Sharon Winzeler, the Secular Franciscan minister at our parish, “members of the Padre Pio Fraternity are involved in a variety of parish and outreach ministries. These include serving meals at Oak City Cares, supporting the Brown Bag Ministry, bringing Communion to the sick, knitting prayer shawls, singing in the choir, volunteering with Catholic Parish Outreach, assisting with the livestream of the 9:00 a.m. Sunday Mass, serving on the parish council and supporting other parish ministries.”
The fraternity’s ministry emphasises Catholic teachings rooted in the Gospel, particularly peace, justice, and care for creation. Members seek to live simply, promote reconciliation, and serve those in need. Through ongoing prayer and formation, Secular Franciscans deepen their understanding of the faith and strive to live out Catholic social teaching in daily life. After three years of formation and discernment, members make a lifetime profession to follow Jesus Christ in the footsteps of St. Francis. While Secular Franciscans do not take religious vows, this profession represents a permanent commitment to Gospel living and the Rule written by St. Francis. We wear a Tau as a sign of our profession and a visible sign of our faith.
The Padre Pio Fraternity includes 70 members from St. Francis and eight other area parishes and is part of a national community of nearly 10,000 Secular Franciscans. Our local website for the Padre Pio Fraternity is here. Meetings are held from 2:30–4:30 p.m. on the fourth Sunday of each month (except December) in Clare Hall. “Meetings consist of prayer, a presentation related to the Secular Franciscan way of life, and time for fellowship,” says Sharon. “We also host two retreats a year: a one-day Advent reflection in December and a three-day event at St. Francis Springs Prayer Center in Stoneville, NC.”
The Padre Pio Fraternity serves at the regional and national levels of the Secular Franciscans. Our regional minister is Ellen Ferrone, OFS, a member of St. Francis of Assisi parish, and parish member Lee Cunningham, OFS, serves as regional councilor. The fraternity has a longstanding presence at St. Francis of Assisi Parish. Past spiritual assistants from the parish have included Fr. David McBriar, OFM, and Fr. Steve Kluge, OFM. The current spiritual assistant is Fr. Hugh Macsherry, OFM, of Immaculate Conception Church in Durham. If you are interested in learning more about becoming a Secular Franciscan here, please contact Sharon Winzeler at swinzeler@gmail.com.