OFS : “An international community of Lay Franciscans”
The Secular Franciscan Order (Third Order) was founded by St. Francis for lay people. It is also open to diocesan clergy. You are invited to find out more about this way of life by entering your information in the “Contact” section of this website.
800 years 1226-2026
The Secular Franciscan Order belongs to the Franciscan Family. It is formed by the union of all its Catholic fraternities throughout the world. The members commit themselves to live the Gospel after the manner of St. Francis. They do so in their lay circumstances following the Rule approved by the Church (ref. Const. 1,3).
The rule of the Secular Franciscan Order is this: to observe the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ by following the example of St. Francis of Assisi, who made Christ the centre of his life with God and people.
The Secular Franciscan Order (Third Order) was founded by St. Francis in 1221 due to the wish of so many people to be part of the Franciscan movement.
There are over a quarter of a million Secular Franciscans worldwide in more than 100 countries
If you would like to know more about joining the OFS please visit the site contact page
The entire Franciscan Family will journey together for the following Centenary Celebrations: in 2023 the Rule and Christmas of Greccio; in 2024 the Stigmata; in 2025 the Canticle of Brother Sun and in 2026 the Transitus or, perhaps better, the Easter of Francis.
1226- 2026 Celebrating the Easter of Saint Francis
picryl public domain image (giotto di bondone)
2026 is a very important year for all the Franciscan family when we celebrate 800 years since the birth into eternal life of our Holy Father Saint Francis.
Francis of Assisi welcomed Sister Death with song, because he understood that death is not the termination of everything but the end that allows us to enter full communion with God.
We celebrated the “Canticle of the Creatures” in 2025
The Canticle of the Creatures
The poetic text was written by Saint Francis and dates back to 1224—two years before he died. It is one of the oldest texts in Italian literature. The Canticle consists of 23 verses dedicated to different parts of creation, like the sun and moon, wind and water.
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2024-10/st-francis-of-assisi-800-anniversary-canticle.html
We celebrated the Stigmata of St Francis in 2024
Giotto, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
We celebrated the Christmas at Greccio in 2023
St Francis embracing the Child Jesus at Christmas Mass in Greccio in 1223 (Fresco by Giotto: wiki commons)
Greccio is the place in central Italy where Saint Francis of Assisi created the first Christmas crib in the year 1223. Francis, recalling a visit he had made years before to Bethlehem, resolved to create the manger he had seen there. The ideal spot was a cave in nearby Greccio. He would find a baby (we’re not sure if it was a live infant or the carved image of a baby), hay upon which to lay him, an ox and an ass to stand beside the manger. Word went out to the people of the town. At the appointed time, they arrived carrying torches and candles. One of the friars began celebrating Mass. Francis himself gave the sermon. His biographer, Thomas of Celano, recalls that Francis “stood before the manger…overcome with love and filled with a wonderful happiness…” For Francis, the simple celebration was meant to recall the hardships Jesus suffered even as an infant, a saviour who chose to become poor for our sake, a truly human Jesus.
from Christmas at Greccio | Franciscan Media
The OFS Celebrated 800 years in 2021
Venerable Matt Talbot Centenary 2025
Matt Talbot RTE documentary link
Matt Talbot was a humble Dublin workman whose life of prayer and penance has become well known since his death on June 7th 1925. He was a dedicated member of the Third Order of St Francis. OFS Ireland members are praying for his Beatification as a patron of addiction. The prayer is available on the Irish Bishops’ Drugs Initiative website Venerable Matt Talbot – IBDI.
Secular Franciscan Order (OFS) - Ireland 