Order of Saint Francis, Old Catholic
A Franciscan Community of Prayer, Simplicity, and Service
The Order of Saint Francis, Old Catholic is a Franciscan order within the Old Catholic Churches International, open to clergy and laity, men and women, and dedicated to a life of prayer, fraternity, simplicity, and faithful service in the Church and the world.
Pax et Bonum
The Life of the Order
The Order of Saint Francis, Old Catholic is a religious community shaped by the Franciscan call to follow Christ in humility, prayer, charity, and joy. Its life is ordered not toward prestige or separation from the Church, but toward holiness, fraternity, and service offered in a spirit of simplicity and peace.
As a Franciscan order within Old Catholic Churches International, it stands within the wider sacramental and apostolic life of the Church while preserving a distinct religious vocation marked by devotion, discipline, and common life.
The Franciscan Vocation
Prayer
The life of the Order is grounded in prayer, worship, and devotion, calling its members to seek God faithfully and to order daily life around Christ and His Church.
Simplicity
Franciscan life is marked by humility, simplicity, and a spirit of detachment, so that the heart may be freer for God, neighbor, and the work of the Gospel.
Service
The vocation of the Order is expressed in mercy, practical charity, companionship, and faithful service to the Church and to those in need.
Open to Clergy and Laity
The Order of Saint Francis, Old Catholic is open to clergy and laity alike, and to both men and women. It welcomes those who are called to live the Franciscan spirit more intentionally within their state of life, whether ordained or lay, single or married, in active ministry or in quieter forms of faithful service.
This openness reflects a serious Franciscan understanding of vocation: that the call to prayer, simplicity, and service may be embraced by many kinds of believers, provided they are willing to live with discipline, devotion, and fidelity.
The Order exists as a Franciscan home for those called to deeper discipleship through prayer, fraternity, simplicity, and service in the life of the Church.
A Common Life in the Church
The life of the Order is not solitary in spirit, even when members serve in different places and ministries. It is a common vocation, shaped by fraternity, mutual encouragement, shared discipline, and a common desire to live the Gospel with greater seriousness and joy.
Within the wider communion of the Church, the Order contributes to the life of worship, witness, pastoral care, and service by forming members in a way of life that is recognizably Franciscan and fully ecclesial.
A Way of Formation and Commitment
The Franciscan life is not casual or decorative. It is a true path of formation, discernment, and commitment. Those who seek to enter the Order are invited to consider whether they are prepared for a life shaped by prayer, discipline, service, and a deeper conformity to Christ in the spirit of Saint Francis.
The purpose of formation is not merely to join a community, but to be changed by the Gospel through a life of devotion, humility, and faithful perseverance.
Begin Here
Whether you are discerning a Franciscan vocation, seeking a religious community within Old Catholic life, or looking for a way of discipleship marked by prayer and service, you are welcome to learn more about the Order of Saint Francis, Old Catholic.