Brother Rat’s Travel Diary

Here I am in Rutland, Vermont. Yesterday I discovered I had been invited out for lunch by the WELCA women’s group and that they had even supplied some cheese for me. But nobody told me I was invited, so I missed out. John, Sara & Helen all said that they…

Continue reading

Brother Rat’s May Report

In six days we set off for Convocation so I thought I had better start packing a bag. Well, I found one I thought might do and I was sitting on the couch with the bag busy deciding whether to pack a tasty Kiwi or some cheese or both when…

Continue reading

Brother Rat’s April Report

I let Helen share my rule and rule reports with her good friend from the TSSF and I got my very own email in reply. Oh such excitement! Dear Brother Rat, I should be shocked at your Rule, but have to admit that I see some rather startling similarities to…

Continue reading

Brother Rat’s Paschal Report

Living in a vegetarian household is really getting me down. No meat for months, I almost forgot what it tasted like! So late one night I quietly tip toed outside and trapped a hedgehog. I put it in a pot of water and cooked it up. Helen caught me at…

Continue reading

Open Registration is Now Live

General Registration for the Annual Chapter/Convocation is now open. If you are discerning a call to the community, this is an excellent opportunity to meet with members of the community, worship together and to learn how the Order functions. You can register by clicking here.

Continue reading

A Blessed and Happy Easter

On behalf of the whole Order, we wish you a Happy Easter. May these 50 days be a time of celebration and new life for you.

Continue reading

Chapter 2016 Important Documents

The annual Chapter and Convocation Meeting for 2016 will be held at Our Lady of Fatima Retreat Center in Indianapolis, IN. The program begins on the afternoon of Thursday, May 26th. Participants who arrive on Wednesday are invited to take time for silent prayer, or connecting with others in the…

Continue reading

Brother Rat’s (Belated) February Report

This month I went on a week long silent retreat with Helen in the Wairarapa. They not only did morning prayer each day but they  did evening prayer as well every day. Praying twice a day! Whatever next? As if that wasn’’t enough, Helen took me on some expeditions as…

Continue reading

Annual Servant’s Report to the Order

Peace and Good to Each and All. Lenten blessings…. In our proposed revised Statutes, Article V. A. 1.b.ii. reads: “Annual Discernment on Community Life and Witness: At any time, but especially during Lent, members of the Order are asked to prayerfully reflect upon the Life and Witness of our Order.…

Continue reading

Joint Committee on Franciscan Unity Report

A Report to the Minister and Chapter of the Order of Secular Franciscans (OFS), the Third Order, Province of the Americas, Society of St. Francis (TSSF), and the Order of Ecumenical Franciscans (OEF) October 7, 2015 Since its inception in February of 2004, the Joint Committee on Franciscan Unity has…

Continue reading