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Following St. Francis in Idaho: Secular Franciscans welcome four new members
BOISE — Four new members of the Secular Franciscan Order made a lifelong commitment on Oct. 4 at Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Boise to follow Jesus Christ through the example of St. Francis of Assisi.
The four completed more than three years of formation before their profession, according to fraternity member Evelyn Brush, OFS, who shared the news in a message to the Idaho Catholic Register.
For Brush, the occasion also offered an opportunity to introduce more Idaho Catholics to a vocation she believes sometimes goes unnoticed.
“Sometimes it feels like the third order Carmelites and lay Dominicans get all the recognition, but we are prayerfully, joyfully serving the Lord, following Jesus through Francis’ example,” she wrote in her message to the Idaho Catholic Register.
The order’s Troubadours of Peace Region, which serves the Pacific Northwest, has two Idaho fraternities on its website secularfranciscan.com and pacificnorthwest.com: St. John the Evangelist in Boise and Mary Queen of Angels in northern Idaho, which meets at St. George Church in Post Falls.
The Boise fraternity was founded in 1958, became dormant for several years during the 1990s and became active again around 2020, according to Brush. Its newest members made their profession Oct. 4, the date traditionally celebrated as the feast of St. Francis.
“Living as a Secular Franciscan has been a central joy in my life and passion for following Jesus,” Brush said. “I’m sure others would want to know we are here.”
The Secular Franciscan Order’s U.S. national website, secularfranciscansusa.org, explains that members live their vocation within the ordinary responsibilities of family, work, and parish life. Members may be married or single, and diocesan clergy may also belong.
Their commitment to living the Gospel through Francis’ example is supported by a local community known as a fraternity.
Historically known as the Third Order of St. Francis, the order traces its roots to the penitential movement associated with Francis in the 13th century. St. Francis personally wrote the rule for Secular Franciscans because not everyone is called to be a priest or nun
Pope St. Paul VI described that heritage in his apostolic letter Seraphicus patriarcha, which approved the order’s present Rule on June 24, 1978. The pope explained that Francis attracted laypeople who sought to follow his example while continuing to live in the world. He said the revised Rule responded to changing conditions and the Second Vatican Council’s teaching.
The Rule calls members to center their lives on the Gospel through prayer, conversion, simplicity, peacemaking and service.
According to formation guidance published on the U.S. national order’s website, preparation for profession involves three stages: orientation, inquiry and candidacy. These provide time to study Franciscan spirituality, participate in fraternity life and discern a lifelong commitment. Formation continues after profession.
In Boise, that commitment takes practical shape through the fraternity’s apostolate with the Native American Coalition of Boise, known as NACOB.
Brush wrote that fraternity members help serve at the organization’s summer picnic, Thanksgiving meal and gathering of elders.
Boise-based Salt & Light Radio also highlighted the fraternity’s relationship with NACOB in its online feature, “Discovering the Secular Franciscan Order.” The feature described members serving meals and connecting with local families, alongside their commitment to prayer, monthly gatherings and continuing formation.
The profession followed another important Franciscan observance. In her message to the Register, Brush announced a celebration of the Transitus of St. Francis.
The U.S. national order’s website describes Transitus as the annual remembrance of Francis’ passage from earthly life to eternal life, observed on the evening of Oct. 3. In his 2026 Easter letter, the order’s general minister, Tibor Kauser, emphasized that this year marks the 800th anniversary of Francis’ death in 1226.
Brush said the council recently held elections, explaining that the fraternity belongs to a Church order with established rules and governing documents.
The order’s Rule provides for local, regional, national and international fraternities, served by elected councils and ministers. The General Constitutions and statutes further guide its governance.
In her message, Brush shared two passages from Pope Francis about the importance of prayer”
“Prayer is not a retreat, an escape, in the face of problems. Instead, it is the only weapon at our disposal for keeping love and hope alive amid the weapons of death,” Pope Francis said during a May 16, 2021, Mass for Myanmar’s faithful in Rome, according to the homily published by the Holy See Press Office.
Brush’s message also included words from Pope Francis’ Aug. 25, 2024, Angelus address. Speaking about religious freedom in Ukraine, the pope said, “Those who truly pray always pray for all,” according to the Vatican’s published text.
Brush hopes more Catholics will discover the joy she has found in the Franciscan vocation.
“Please celebrate with us. Please tell people about us,” she wrote.
According to the Troubadours of Peace Region’s online directory, St. John the Evangelist Fraternity meets at 2 p.m. on the third Sunday of each month in rooms F and G at Our Lady of the Rosary. For more information, email Terry Buck, OFS, at Terrywbuck51@gmail.com.
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