Udupi/M’Belle: Nineteen new members initiated into the Secular Franciscan Order

By Eugene DSouza
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi/M’Belle, 12 Mar 2016: Nineteen new members, 11 from Kattingeri, 4 from Manipal, 2 from Moodubelle and 2 from Kuntalnagar were initiated into the Secular Franciscan Order during the 4 pm mass on Saturday, 12 March 2016 that was offered by Rev. Fr. Victor Fernandes(OFM Cap), Assistant Parish Priest of Moodubelle and Superior of Assisi Nilaya and Rev. Fr. Prakash Lobo (OFM Cap)-Spiritual Director of  Udupi Region for Secular Franciscan Order.

 

 

The investiture ceremony was held soon after the homily. Mrs. Helen D’Souza-President of Kattingeri Unit of Secular Franciscan Order read the names of 19 new members who stood in front of the altar. Rev. Fr. Victor Fernandes blessed the Secular Franciscan Order’s Scapulars and medallions. Mrs. Eugene Machado-President of Franciscan Secular Order Udupi Region along with senior members presented the Scapulars and medallions  to the  new members.

 

The Secular Franciscan Order  is a community of Catholic men and women in the world who seek to pattern their lives after Christ in the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi. Secular Franciscans are tertiaries, or members of the Third Order of St. Francis founded by St. Francis of Assisi 800 years ago.

 

Originally known as the Brothers and Sisters of Penance, the Order is open to any Catholic not bound by religious vows to another religious order and is made up of both the laity (men and women non-clergy) and secular clergy (deacons, priests, and bishops).

 

Although Secular Franciscans make a public profession, they are not bound by public vows as are religious living in community.The Third Order Regular (TOR), which grew out of the Third Order Secular, do make religious vows and live in community.

 

Because the Order belongs to the spiritual family of the Franciscan movements, the Holy See has entrusted its pastoral care and spiritual assistance to the Franciscan First Order (Order of Friars Minor-OFM) and Franciscan Third Order Regular (TOR), which belong to the same spiritual family.