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North Idaho secular Franciscans continue St. Francis’ mission of faith, love and service
By Lisa Ormond
ICR North Idaho Correspondent
Eight hundred years ago on Oct. 3, one of Catholicism’s greatest saints, St. Francis of Assisi, passed into heaven leaving his earthly existence for eternal life with God. Pope Leo XIV proclaimed and dedicated a special jubilee year in the saint’s honor, which began in January and goes through January 2027.
Catholic Church communities around the world—and here, too, in North Idaho—are rejoicing and celebrating their beloved founder.
“Francis brought a radical approach to following Jesus that our world needed in his day and still needs even more today: peace, love and respect for all of God’s creation instead of relentless and unproductive bickering and war,” said Paul Franz, OFS.
Franz has been a Franciscan for over 26 years and is a member of the North Idaho Franciscans, called the Mary Queen of Angels Fraternity established in 2000.
The group gathers monthly at St. George Parish in Post Falls. Spokane-based Sister Sharon Bongiorno, a Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration (FSPA) since 1966, serves as the council’s spiritual assistant, bringing a background of teaching, parish ministry and volunteer service experience, spanning five western states.
“People always ask what we do,” said Sandy Neal, a professed Franciscan for over 30 years. “It’s not really what we do but who we are.”
Franciscans among us
Its members are a devout, loving, giving and doing group of faithful Catholics called to live a deeper Gospel life in the footsteps of St. Francis.
The Secular Franciscan Order was founded by St. Francis in the early 12th century. It is officially known in Latin as Ordo Franciscanus Saecularis and is abbreviated OFS.
“Our fraternity is but a small twig of a tree with many branches, all seeking to know and do the will of God,” said Wayne Woodard, who serves as the group’s minister, as a leader in a facilitator role. “Being a Franciscan is a fine-tuning of the Catholic faith and beliefs in how we live our lives.”
The OFS emphasizes conversion, charity, forgiveness and compassion, encouraging members to integrate the Gospel into daily life and to serve the poor, marginalized, and the broader community.
In Idaho, two fraternities of approximately 20 members represent this secular order to Catholics across local parish communities. In addition, Idaho is part of the Troubadours of Peace Region that also includes the states of Alaska, Oregon and Washington.
“Being a Franciscan allows individuals to deepen their devotion to Christ and cultivate a greater love for one another,” acknowledged Neal.
A dedication of heart
According to the North Idaho fraternity’s brochure titled, "Come and See How Secular Franciscans Live Joyfully in the World and Celebrate," their purpose is to “bring the gospel to life where we live and where we work.”
Franz offered a 360-degree viewpoint of what this looks like in the every day.
“It means seeing and acting on the good inherent in all people,” he said. “Plus, working to provide opportunities for people to support and improve their communities and to recognize the value and dignity of work that benefits everyone.”
He shared an example where one Franciscan member was a dentist. He held a free dental day at his Coeur d’ Alene office, offering donated care by local dentists and hygienists.
“There was an overwhelming community response, and providers were incredibly generous,” Franz said. “People with cavities, abbesses and all kinds of dental issues came through the door who couldn’t afford care and were so thankful.”
Spiritual life and mission
The northern Idaho Franciscans are active members following St. Francis’s example and principles wholeheartedly, walking and serving their parish communities across the region.
“We belong to a real order; it’s a part of the Catholic Church, and we have rules we live by.”
Secular Franciscans include men and women, single or married, and members of the diocesan clergy. This is the “Third Order” and they live in their own homes and participate in local communities. Members do not take religious vows but make a spiritual commitment to live a Gospel-centered life.
“We focus on simplicity, environmental concerns, strengthening the family unit, peacemaking, and joyful living,” explained Woodard.
Secular Franciscans balance prayer, contemplation and active service, reflecting the Franciscan ideals of simplicity, humility and care for creation.
“Francis started with a ragtag group of men,” Neal said. “They survived by living in fields and churches and walking the lands of Italy proclaiming Christ and creation. They begged pretty much most of the time and St. Francis wouldn’t own anything.”
From his way of living in those ancient days, he wrote the Rule of St. Francis, a set of guidelines and principles (approved by the Church) for his followers to live by.
“We follow the example of St. Francis of Assisi by living like Jesus. Through prayer, the Gospels and our Rule, we live out our Christian calling from ‘Gospel to life and life to Gospel,’” shared Neal.
Living in the here and now
And what does that look like in the year 2026?
“It’s the way you treat people and the way you act,” Neal said. “We all are in different churches, different places in North Idaho with different gifts to offer. Each individual is involved in their own parish living out the Franciscan principles.”
Woodard explained it this way: “It looks like individual Franciscans serving their own parishes and clergy and people in a variety of ways such as Eucharistic ministers, altar servers, lectors and volunteering on various committees,” he said.
Franciscans live humbly in exchange for desiring to put Jesus at the center of their lives, thus yielding abundant spiritual riches and a sense of perfect joy in all they do.
“Although we don’t live in complete poverty necessarily like St. Francis did in his day, we don’t have a lot of extras by choice,” shared Neal.
“We don’t have undo attachment to the materialism of the world,” explained Woodard.
Choosing the path
During this jubilee year of St. Francis of Assisi, Franciscans desire to reintroduce themselves to their wider Catholic community and invite others to consider joining them.
“It is a wonderful and fulfilling way to improve ourselves and grow in our faith,” offered Franz.
Any Catholic 18 or older can become a member. There is a three-year, three-stage program to explore and follow, which includes attending monthly meetings, focused studies, prayer, monthly appointments with the council’s formation director and regular fellowship.
Neal explained why she chose to profess to be a Franciscan. “As a Catholic convert, after exploring several groups and ministries within the Catholic faith, I chose to become a Secular Franciscan because it immediately felt like family.”
And her affiliation as a Franciscan continues to give back to her spirituality even after 30 years. “As a lifelong learner, the ongoing formation in my local fraternity, along with opportunities for growth at the regional and national levels, continues to enrich my faith journey,” Neal said
It is a lifetime commitment, if accepted. Once a person chooses the path of a Franciscan, formation remains a lifelong endeavor that ensures continuous spiritual growth and development.
“At the end of his life, St. Francis told his followers, ‘I have done what is mine to do; may Christ teach you what is yours,’” Woodard said. “We can only offer to others what God has done in us by finding and following our own faith path.”
For more information about the North Idaho Mary Queen of Angels Fraternity of Franciscans and membership, please call Wayne Woodard at (208) 981-3791.
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