List of Secular Orders and Links

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I know many people here belong to secular orders, such as the Secular Franciscan Order (SFO) or secular Carmelites (OCDS). I also am aware that there are secular orders for Benedictines, and many others.

I am hoping we can comple a list, with links. What is needed most are top-level links (global directories) or at least regional directories so that people can look and know whom to contact in their area if they would like to explore a community.

Also, I might add that diocesan priests may join a secular branch. I know several diocesan priests who are with the OCDS, and they will sometimes be involved with a local chapter as a spiritual director. To contrast that, a Carmelite priest will carry OCD after his name. If you are aware of such priests or bishops, please add this info or links, if there would be no objections by that person (like - if they have writings on the web already, blogs or websites). Fr. Robert Altier, OCDS, formerly of St. Agnes in MN, and Relevant Radio is one such example.

By all means, supply links to local chapters, but at the same time, if there is an upper level link which reveals other chapters of the same order, it would be most helpful. However, keep in mind that it may be characteristic of some secular orders to work more in the background, rather than being highly visible on the web. I know this is the case with some Carmelite communities.

I hope this will be a fun and fruitful project for those already engaged and those seeking.
 
I would add the caveat that if one is a traditional, magisterial Catholic, the SFO might be a tad too liberal for your tastes. I was a SFO for 10 years, met many wonderful and holy people, but the order at the national level became more and more “corporate”. It was my feeling–and the feeling of many other traditional Catholics–that our voices were not welcome and that there was truly no place for us in so “progressive” an order. By all means, check it out, just be sure to go into this one with eyes wide open.:nope:

Pax et bonum!
 
SLCFranciscan said:
I would add the caveat that if one is a traditional, magisterial Catholic, the SFO might be a tad too liberal for your tastes. I was a SFO for 10 years, met many wonderful and holy people, but the order at the national level became more and more “corporate”. It was my feeling–and the feeling of many other traditional Catholics–that our voices were not welcome and that there was truly no place for us in so “progressive” an order. By all means, check it out, just be sure to go into this one with eyes wide open.:nope:

Pax et bonum!
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Perhaps you could start a new chapter, with an orthodox leader. I don’t know how chapters are regulated, and whether you can have more than one chapter in a geographical area, but that may be the trick.

The concern you raise is a valid one. I have encountered Carmelite chapters via the web that are into a new age kind of spirituality.

If you are professed, then you cannot simply quit being a secular Franciscan. I believe you need to be dispensed from that vow, continue to fulfill your obligations - prayer, meetings, service, etc., or transfer to another order. I do know orthodox-minded, by-the-book, traditional Catholics who follow along, but hold their position in the order. But, transferring may not be all that hard or bad.

I would encourage you to get together with others and explore your options. For example, I heard recently that there is a secular order or oblates for the Franciscans of the Renewal (Fr. Benedict Groeschel’s order). While I see nothing on their website yet, I heard about it on radio or saw it on TV. Contact them at that link and perhaps there is a long-distance way to join or transfer. Consider that Fr. Benedict Groeschel transferred, I believe from the Capuchins or TOR when he started his new community.

Also, if you like working with the poor, I know for a fact that the Missionaries of Charity - Mother Teresa’s order - have “lay missionaries” . I know of one or two at my parish who belong here in Detroit (and I took pictures of some of them when they visited my parish on Corpus Christi 2006 - scroll down). I can find out more about how they joined, but to my mind, people should just approach the Missionaries of Charity locally or contact them through their website.

Many secular orders have provisions for people who are too far from a community. They are dealt with through mail/email and other methods.

My thinking is that people who are solid in their understanding of the catechism will rebuild many of these lay orders up to levels unseen in the past. It may take starting new communities when the only option is a community bent on dissent from Church teaching, or infused with new age-ism. As for liturgical issues, you may have to deal with going to masses that are not traditional, and perhaps even illicit, (but not invalid) and offer it up.
 
Starting a new chapter would solve nothing, as we would still be paying the “Fair Share” assessment which would go to support national, which is supporting modernist, globalist philosophies I simply morally cannot agree with. After much fasting, prayer, and discernment, I asked for and was granted release from the SFO and am currently a postulant in the Congraternity of Penitents which is recognized by the church, is in full communion with Rome, and which follows the Primitive Franciscan Rule of 1221. For what I am looking for (loyalty to the magisterium, traditional Catholicism, a strong prayer life, etc.) this is the right place for me. If others are interested, the web site is: penitents.org/

👍 Pax et bonum!
 
SLCFranciscan said:
Starting a new chapter would solve nothing, as we would still be paying the “Fair Share” assessment which would go to support national, which is supporting modernist, globalist philosophies I simply morally cannot agree with. After much fasting, prayer, and discernment, I asked for and was granted release from the SFO and am currently a postulant in the Congraternity of Penitents which is recognized by the church, is in full communion with Rome, and which follows the Primitive Franciscan Rule of 1221. For what I am looking for (loyalty to the magisterium, traditional Catholicism, a strong prayer life, etc.) this is the right place for me. If others are interested, the web site is: penitents.org/

👍 Pax et bonum!
Click to expand...
Excellent! I’m glad that you found something.

I wasn’t sure whether to encourage confraternaties, but why not? I know there is an Order of Penitents, but is that the same as the confraternity. Note Canon Law below on the Order of Virgins which mentions the order of penitents.

There is a difference between confraternaties and secular orders. We can dive into them to distinguish, but I don’t have time at the moment.

ORDER OF VIRGINS

There are also other canonical categories, such as the Order of Virgins. This is not a religious order like the Franciscans, but a canonical state. One is not called “sister”, but she is a consecrated person in the eyes of the Church. She is a Consecrated Virgin Living in the World. For a woman who finds herself full of so much love for Christ that she simply cannot give her heart to a man in marriage, this may be an option for you and is blooming.

Canon 604 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law provides for the establishment of the Order of Virgins as a form of consecrated life in the Church. The word, order, is used in the sense of a distinct group of persons in the Church, for example, the order of presbyters, the order of deacons, the order of penitents or the order of widows. It is not used in the sense of a congregation of consecrated religious, for example, the Order of Saint Benedict, the Order of Preachers, or the Order of Friars Minor. [source]
 
Here is another lay order which is new. If you know Fr. Frank Pavone, you know this is an orthodox lay order as well. But, you need to feel called to working for the unborn and pro-life activities.

😃

Here is more information on the Missionaries of the Gospel of Life - Lay Associates.

This does not sound like an order, per se. But, it is possible that they must wait until things are well established before they can tack on a bona fide secular order.

Does anyone know if this is along the lines of a confraternity or an order?
 
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