Not all who follow Francis are members of the Franciscan Orders. The Companions of the Society of St. Francis are one way to follow Francis without joining an order.
Perhaps God is calling to you through a heart hurting with emptiness in the midst of material plenty. Perhaps you are in need of prayerful support in your life. Perhaps you have gifts God is calling you to share. Perhaps you feel called to work on behalf of the poor and marginalized. Perhaps God is leading you to follow the little poor man of Assisi in order that your love for God and creation may grow. We welcome men, women, lay, clergy, married, single, young and old to join us as Companions in our diverse Franciscan family.
We invite you to become a Companion of The Society of Saint Francis, an international religious community of men and women within the Anglican Communion, inspired by the 13th century mystic, Saint Francis of Assisi.
Your Obligations as a Companion
- To pray to God and read some verses of the Bible every day.
- To attend Holy Communion regularly.
- To make use of the sacrament of reconciliation or some other method of examination of conscience and penance.
- To practice responsible stewardship of resources, both personal and environmental
- To support your Franciscan Brothers and Sisters in the Society of St. Francis through your gifts and prayers.
- To respond to God’s call to the service of others in the situation of your life.
- To deepen your knowledge of God and the faith through study and retreats.
- To write a Rule of Life and correspond with the Director for Companions at least once each year to review your whole Franciscan journey
How to Become a Companion
1. If you feel that God is calling you to become a Companion, send an email telling us about yourself and why you feel called to join our Franciscan family.
Bob Kershner, TSSF
Companions SSF Guardian
companions@tssf.org
2. After receiving guidelines from the Guardian for Companions of the Society of St. Francis, write your Rule of Life and ask a friend or clergy person who knows you well to send in a letter of recommendation.
3. Upon receipt of your Rule and the recommendation, the Guardian will let you know how to arrange a reception service and will send you the Companion’s Pin.
Having said all that, we hope you will still feel drawn towards the Companions of the Society of St. Francis. May God bless you on your journey.