A Franciscan Calling

They were also the inspiration which led to
the Society of St Francis, founded in the
Anglican Church in the early twentieth
century. Our First Order Brothers (SSF) live in
community houses (friaries) in urban and
rural settings. We make life vows of poverty,
chastity and obedience, and seek to live
balanced lives of prayer, study and work, in a
spirit of humility, love and joy.
The common life is expressed in prayer,
working together and fellowship around the
altar and the meal table, We aim to build
one another up in love by the grace of God,
and to bear one another’s burdens. Our
houses welcome all as brothers and sisters
and fellow pilgrims on the path to God, with
the hospitality of Christ.
Work includes the ordinary tasks of life, as
well as a wide range of ministries, drawing
on the gifts of each brother.
All Franciscans share a concern for justice
and peace, seeing all people and all of
creation, after the example of Francis, as
brother and sister. This concern leads to a
care for the created world, a deep respect
for all life, a simple life style, and a desire to
share what God has given us with others.
In our Province of the Divine Compassion we
have brothers (friars) in:
Australia: www.franciscan.org.au
New Zealand: www.franciscan.org.nz
Korea: www.francis.or.kr
And Sri Lanka.
Other brothers are in England, the USA,
Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea:
www.anglicanfranciscans.org
Maybe … ?
Franciscan artwork courtesy of:
Hermano León Clipart
(www.cruzblanca.org/hermanoleon),
and Michael O’Brien (www.studiobrien.com)
Too crazy to
imagine … ?
Handle a life
commitment ?—
Never! … ?
A Franciscan Calling … ?
All Franciscans
seek to follow
Christ, in the
particular way
shown by St
Francis and St
Clare of Assisi.
These saints
lived in Italy in
the thirteenth
century, and
heard the call
of Christ to a
radical living of
the gospel.
Giving away all his possessions, Francis cared
for lepers, preached the Good News and
greeted people with the peace of Christ.
Clare was inspired by him to embrace a live
of radical poverty and prayer. Others soon
joined them and their simple way of life.
 Is Christ calling you to life and
ministry as an Anglican
Franciscan brother?
 Are you inspired by Francis and
Clare and the way they followed
in the steps of Christ?
“Come and See”
(Jesus: Gospel according to John 1:39)
“The Lord gave me
some brothers”
(Francis of Assisi: Testament 14)
 Can you help us live the gospel
of Jesus Christ in a radical and
fresh way?
 Are you a single man, 21 – 45
years old,* physically fit, of
sound mind, capable of living in
community and engaging in
manual work?
SEEK …
Enquire …
If you want to know more about our life
or just to explore things further, please
get in touch. Give a few details about
yourself and your faith and why you are
interested. If you want to come and visit
one of our communities we can then
arrange convenient dates.
We also hold enquirers’ programmes
from time to time to which we invite
potentially suitable candidates. These
programmes help people explore their
possible vocation further and include
some times of study and reflection, the
opportunity to meet some of our
brothers and ask questions about
Anglican Franciscan life, as well as
experiencing times of shared prayer and
work.
To find out more please contact:
* Our normal age range can be varied in
exceptional circumstances.
Australia: Br Bruce-Paul, (02) 4994 5372,
[email protected]
Korea: Br Raphael Suh, (033) 263 4662,
[email protected]
Ask …
New Zealand: Br Brian, (07) 856 6701,
[email protected],
Sri Lanka: Br Lionel, 077 294 8935,
[email protected]