Join Us
Join Us
Discern a Franciscan Vocation
The Order of Saint Francis, Old Catholic welcomes clergy and laity, men and women, who believe they may be called to a life of prayer, simplicity, fraternity, and service in the spirit of Saint Francis.
Pax et Bonum
Is This Vocation for You?
You may be called to the Order if you desire a more intentional life of prayer, a simpler and more disciplined Christian witness, and a deeper commitment to serving Christ and His Church. Franciscan life is not about appearance or title. It is about conversion, humility, devotion, and perseverance.
This vocation is open to clergy and laity, men and women. What matters most is not your current role, but whether you are prepared to live with seriousness, fidelity, and a genuine desire to grow in the Gospel.
What We Look For
A Life of Prayer
You should be willing to order your life around prayer, worship, devotion, and a steady pursuit of God.
A Franciscan Spirit
You should desire a life marked by simplicity, humility, peace, charity, and love for neighbor.
A Willingness to Be Formed
You should be ready to learn, to be guided, and to enter a real process of discernment and formation rather than seeking a quick affiliation.
The First Step: Discernment
Joining the Order begins with discernment. If you believe you may be called, the first step is to make contact and begin a serious conversation about your vocation, your present state of life, and your readiness for Franciscan formation.
This first stage is meant to test the call carefully. Not every sincere interest is a vocation, and not every admiration for Saint Francis is a call to the Order. Discernment helps clarify whether this is truly the path God is setting before you.
The purpose of discernment is not simply to ask whether you want to join, but whether you are being called to live the Franciscan life with faithfulness and perseverance.
Postulancy
Postulancy is normally a one to two year immersion into the Franciscan way of life. It is a period of prayer, classes, and outreach ministries to the poor, and it serves as the first real stage of entry into the Order.
This time is meant to test the vocation in practice. It allows the person discerning the Order to begin living its rhythm and discipline while also allowing the Order to see whether the vocation is genuine, stable, and fruitful.
Formation and Commitment
The Franciscan life is not casual. It asks for real formation, spiritual discipline, and a willingness to be changed over time. A person entering the Order should expect to grow through prayer, study, service, and obedience to a common life rather than through private preference or self-direction.
The goal of formation is not merely membership. It is conversion of life. The Order exists to help form people who can live the Franciscan vocation faithfully in the Church and in the world.
Who Should Inquire
You should inquire if you are drawn to a life of prayer, simplicity, fraternity, and service, and if you are prepared to take vocation seriously. You do not need to have everything figured out before making contact, but you should be willing to speak honestly, listen carefully, and enter the process with humility.
If you are looking only for recognition, quick status, or a religious identity without discipline, this is not the right path. If you are looking for a deeper life in Christ shaped by Franciscan devotion and common vocation, then it may be time to ask whether God is calling you here.
Begin Here
If you feel that you may be called to the Order of Saint Francis, Old Catholic, begin by taking the next step in discernment. Learn more about the Order, reflect seriously on the vocation, and make contact to begin the conversation.