Secular Franciscans visit St. Clare Fraternity in 2019 to celebrate the August 11 feast day of St. Clare. 

The St. Clare Secular Franciscan Fraternity is a community of Catholic men and women from various parishes in Southwest Florida. We are called by God to follow a gospel life after the example of St. Francis of Assisi, to share his charism, and to make it present in the world by the way we live. Secular Franciscans express the teachings of Jesus Christ through our daily lives, both in prayer and in action, going from Gospel to life and from life to Gospel. Hallmarks of our spirituality are Simplicity, Poverty, Humility, a sense of Minority, a complete and active abandonment to God, Conversion, Transformation, and Peacemaking.

Left to right Richard Nozewski, Mary Ellen Becker, Carol Bart, Anne Marie Hovancsek, Deacon Bob Kronyak, and Bob Schoenborn with banner for 2019 Christmas Parade.

The term Secular indicates that we live in the world. We are active members of society, married and single women and men.  We do not give up family, jobs, or our responsibilities.  Rather, we intentionally bring Franciscan spirituality into our families, our jobs, our churches, our neighborhoods, and our society.  We work to promote life, justice, and peace in our communities and among all people of the world.

Front to back Jan Snyder, Anne Marie Hovancsek, Deacon Bob Kronyak, Mary Ellen Becker, Carol Bart and Richard Nozewski march in 2019 Christmas Parade.

Adults over the age of 18 years seeking to become a Secular Franciscan complete a process that can last between 27 months to almost three years. It begins with Orientation to determine the basic disposition to Franciscan Charism and life in fraternity. What follows next is the Initial Formation known as Inquiry (or discernment) where one determines if they truly are being called to this vocation.
 

Newly professed members of St. Clare Fraternity with Father Rick Martignetti OFM on December 8, 2020 left to right Mary Ellen Becker, David Bowen, Fr. Rick, Richard Nozewski and Bob Schoenborn. 

Inquirers learn about lay spirituality, the life of St. Francis of Assisi, the history and structure of the Secular Franciscan Order as well as the Rule of the Secular Franciscan Order written by St. Francis. If the person is ready to embrace the consecrated life, there is a period of Candidacy with focus on the Pauline Rule and Prologue, Sacred Scripture, Franciscan Spirituality, Franciscan Apostolic Life and the Ritual of the Secular Franciscan Order.  The  Rite of Profession is the final step and lasts a lifetime. As you may surmise, the key word is guidance by the Holy Spirit followed by a lifelong commitment. 

Professed members pray Morning and Evening Prayer daily and gather as a community on the first Sunday of the month in the Ave Maria Parish Hall.  We pray, study, and strive to experience "ongoing daily conversion", to turn away from sin by being faithful to the Gospel through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.



Newly elected Council members on February 6, 2022 from left to right: Richard Nozewski-Councilor, Beatrice Sanford-Vice Minister, Mary Ellen Becker-Secretary, Bill Roche-Formation Director, Sheila Solomon-Minister, and David Bowen-Treasurer.

All are welcome to join us at our Fraternity meetings as our special guests.  For more information, contact Minister Sheila Solomon at [email protected] or visit the Secular Franciscan Order USA.