Profession into the Secular Franciscan Order

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I have a somewhat complicated query…I am in formation with a fraternity of Secular Franciscans. In a few months, I want to be a professed member of the fraternity, but they meet in a different parish than one I belong to. I recently had a phone conversation with the pastor of the parish that we meet and he didn’t sound like he had much understanding of how the order operates, as he thought that the profession was just simply a blessing, not to mention it would only be for parishioners. My query would be do I go with someone to explain the process to him with the other person or people with me to explain it to him? The profession would require a priest as it would take place during mass and is something more than a blessing to honor someone.
 
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Do you not have a Franciscan priest as your community chaplain?
We did, and the Mass was in the Friary chapel, with ourselves and the resident friars. We met there always in the dining room, otherwise in the chapel.

Secular, but our third order, a true order of the Church, we were considered family. We woul have tea and cookies after our meeting in the dining room with whoever of the friars wished to join us. Our chaplain remained our chaplain even when he was provincial…I hadn’t realised how blessed we were.

Perhaps there is miscommunication with the priest and it would be helpful to courteously and in a quiet way, give him an advance copy of proceedings.
However I wouldn’t insist on it being a private Mass.
Francis loved the Church and I think would be inclusive. Christ’s ‘rebuild my Church’ wouldn’t exclude a community event which might inspire others to join.
Being in a Franciscan parish, with an additional nearby friary, our Third Order/Secular Franciscan community had events that welcomed the parish community.

Though you don’t have those conditions, it isn’t necessary to be cloistered from the parish community to be good Franciscan fraternity.

However if you give the priest a copy of the required procedure he may appreciate the need to have a Mass that only includes the Franciscan community and their families
Pax et Bonum
 
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We wouldn’t be cloistered from the community, but would rather have the profession at a mass where the parish community is present. We don’t currently have a Franciscan priest for a community chaplain. I do see how the Secular Franciscans are considered family. Everyone treats each other with respect and dignity. I would absolutely want others to join the community of Secular Franciscans both here and around the world if it is in their calling!
 
Many people, priests included, are unaware of how the “Big Five” groups of the consecrated religious operate - especially secular orders.

You may already know this; the Secular Franciscans are Franciscans. They are just as Franciscan as the Friars and Poor Clares. When you join the SFO, you become a full-fledged member, which includes following a Rule of Life.

What’s important about this is your canonical place within the Church also changes. This is not the same as joining the Knights of Columbus or the Catholic Woman’s League. The SFO is not a lay association, and certainly isn’t like being installed as a Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion or being installed as a reader and/or lector. You become a member of the Order, and with that your state within the Church also changes. Your priest no longer has the same canonical authority over you as he once did, you now have a Superior. Your Superior is whom you will go to for direction, guidance, and at times ask for permission.

Example; say you are a man, and you feel called to be a Permanent Deacon. Ordinarily you’d talk to you parish priest, right? As a Secular Franciscan, you’d talk to your Superior, and if they say “I don’t think you are called to this, I’m going to say 'no” for now". That will shut the door to being a Deacon, until (or if) the Superior changes their minds.

Essentially, it works as follows:

It used to be; You —> Priest —> Bishop —> Cardinals —> Pope.

It will soon become; You —> Third Order Superior —> Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life → Pope.

This is a huge deal, and the priest (especially your parish priest) needs to be aware of the ramifications. I would definitely bring someone to help explain things.
 
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Thank you for your help! Just a question or two in addition…if the priest rejects the idea of religious profession taking place in his parish even if the person is a parishioner after my witness and I present him with an explanation, do we find another priest or do we take the issue up with the church (i.e. his bishop)? Or do we do both?
 
I was also advised to check with the Regional Fraternity as far as getting a priest to do the profession. Any thoughts?
 
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