SERVICE
FRATERNITY APOSTOLATES
House of Bethany
This is a Prayer and Penance group who do church cleaning on a monthly basis in the spirit of Martha and Mary. Every cleaning begins in prayer as we ask the blessing of the Father on the work that we do; we also ask for forgiveness for our sins during the month. This is typically a group of 7 people, some of whom are OFS. We believe in working together; not everyone is called to a Secular Franciscan Vocation.
Clare’s Loving Hands
The oldest of our Apostolates, this group evolved from a knitting circle who provided hats and scarves for the homeless in Center City, to an Apostolate that provides support to OFS and Parish events through cooking, organization and service, answering whatever call is made.
4Ps Ministry
Realizing that letters and phone calls can be a powerful tool for connection and accompaniment for our brothers who remain on the inside. These are the brothers who have professed to the Secular Franciscan Order but who are condemned to( DBI) death
by incarceration. One of those prisoners was released by a miracle 3 years ago and is now active in the Fraternity. He works with the Catholic Mobilization Network and has inspired our work with “Straight-Ahead” and “Free Our People in Pennsylvania”.
Cooking for Christ
5 of the Philadelphia Fraternities partner with a group of young missionaries from around the country. They are the “Christ in the City” missionaries who are trained in working with the homeless. The fraternities cook a hot meal once a month which is served with the missionaries to our “Friends in the Park”. The fraternities also collect both new and used clothing and toiletries which are available for distribution at the
lunches. We also evangelize with the homeless although the primary purpose of the meetings are to break down the barriers of isolation which has been identified as the main issue for those whom we serve,
LGBT+ Outreach
This is a new apostolate which organically surfaced out of need. We provide support by attending the monthly prayer meetings and by showing love and support as members of the community continue their faith journey and pray together for guidance from the Holy
Spirit as they seek answers for their challenges. This partnership has also resulted in LGBT+ participation in the re-enactment of the Transitus of St. Francis (October 3) and the Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) on Good Friday of each year.
Prayer Warriors
In development…check back in a few weeks!
Laudato Si’
Currently in its 4 th Year, led by a Certified LSM Animator, the Circle has become more and more focused. In additional to providing “Pansies, Pines and Prayers” for Earth Day, we have focused on making SJE GREEN. Visitors who rent space in the Parish Center are asked to comply with our wishes: things like bottled water are not used at any of our events; all utensils are earth friendly; plastic table covers have been replaced with table linens. In 2025, we evaluated the possibility of technical ties that would assist in spreading the “good news”: we purchased the “PhillyOFS” domain and hired a consultant to help develop the Website, to include message posting boards which are linked to Instagram. Members of the Circle work/participate in programs at their local parks (e.g. Winter Solstice Walk at the John Heinz Wildlife Refuge), some are Block Captains for Clean Up Philly. We are active in the EcoPhilly Movement and have participated in the Summit for the past 3 years. Currently, we have active roles in “Free Our People in PA”, “Straight Ahead” and “Week of the Poor” in November.
Individual Service
In constant awareness of the virtues of holiness, humility and charity, members of our fraternity serve the people of God in a wide variety of apostolates. Each member
(professed and in formation) is asked to build up the Kingdom of God using his or her own unique skills, interests, education, training and formation. Individually, we give as often and much as possible of our time, talent and treasure.
Our fraternity members’ work is in Catholic education, service to the poor, food service
to the hungry, animal welfare, collection of clothing for the needy, media communication,
hospice work, and more.
Let them individually and collectively be in the forefront in promoting justice by the testimony of their human lives and their courageous initiatives. Especially in the field of public life, they should make definite choices in harmony with their faith. Let them esteem work both as a gift and as a sharing in the creation, redemption, and service of
the human community.
— Rule of the Secular Franciscan Order, 2.15-1
On Service
Secular Franciscans serve the people of God in a variety of ways. We each have our own apostolate work in our parishes and communities that is in line with our talents and interests. We work in religious education and parish life. We work with the sick, dying, hungry and homeless. We work for the welfare of all God’s creatures, including animals.
The advantage to this type of work is that our Order is everywhere. We’re all doing something different and bringing the Franciscan charism of service to God’s people in many places. Gaining inspiration from the example and the writings of Francis and, above all, filled with the grace of the Holy Spirit, each day the brothers and sisters faithfully live the great gift which Christ has given: the revelation of the Father. They should bear witness
to this faith before all:
in their family life;
in their work;
in their joys and sufferings;
in their associations with all men and women, brothers and sisters of the same Father; in their presence and participation in the life of society;
in their fraternal relationships with all creatures.
— General Constitutions of the Secular Franciscan Order, 12.1
Secular Franciscan Order 