Within the Franciscan Family, St. Francis of Assisi founded three Orders.

We friars of Our Lady of the Angels Province are members of a First Order – the Friars Minor which is divided into three branches consisting of ordained and non-ordained friars: the Friars Minor (Brown Franciscans – OFM), the Friars Minor Capuchin (Capuchins – OFM Cap.) and the Friars Minor Conventual (Franciscan Friars Conventual – OFM Conv. – of which our province belongs). All First Order Friars take solemn vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. Conventual friar priests and friar brothers live in community as a single family, sharing in the life and work of the entire community, with equal rights and obligations. Read More

The Second Order – the Poor Clares, includes nuns professing the Rule of St. Clare (est. 1253) as well as those who observe dispensations granted (1263) or the constitutions drawn up by St. Colette (1458). Each Poor Clare Nun (O.S.C.) lives in the same monastery for her whole Religious life, taking the same solemn vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. Read More

Also established by St. Francis of Assisi is the Third Order – Secular. The Secular Franciscan Order (OFS) is a public association in the Church, divided into fraternities at various levels: local, regional, national, and international. Each fraternity has its own juridical personality within the Church and consists of laity (men and women) as well as secular clergy (deacons, priests and bishops). The rule and life of the Secular Franciscan is to observe the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ by following Saint Francis of Assisi, who made Christ the inspiration and the center of his life with God and people. Secular Franciscans make a public profession and are consecrated, but they are not bound by public vows as are the First and Second Order Franciscans.   Read More

The Leadership of each regional and local fraternity, as well as formation, is provided by a Professed Secular Franciscans. Since the Holy See has entrusted their pastoral care and spiritual assistance to the Franciscan First Orders and the Third Order Regulars, we have our own Provincial Spiritual Assistant to the Secular Franciscan Order: Br. Lawrence LaFlame, OFM Conv.
Although not all fraternities within the perimeters of our province are served by our friars, there are several friars who also serve local fraternities near their own ministries. To find a fraternity near you, click here.

St. Anthony of Padua Fraternity in Boynton Beach, FL is served by our friars in pastoral ministry at St. Mark Catholic Church, where they meet each month, as a local fraternity of the Five Franciscan Martyrs Region (SE USA – Southern GA, Lower AL and FL).
This month, Fr. Richard Florek, OFM Conv., who serves as Parochial Vicar at St. Mark Parish, helped them celebrate their fraternity’s Rite of Admission for three new members.