• In Canada the minimum age for profession is 18

• Must be a Catholic in good standing and in full communion with the Catholic Church

• Must live one’s Catholic faith in season & out of season, & when there is no emergency circumstances in one's life, attend Holy Days of Obligation

• Must have received the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist)

• If married, we must receive written consent from your spouse

• Reference letter from your parish priest

• A copy of the certificates of the sacraments you have received. As a minimum, a baptismal certificate is required

The time of initiation is intended for the discernment of the vocation, and for the reciprocal acquaintance between the fraternity and the person interested in joining the Order. The

period should guarantee the freedom and the seriousness of entrance into the Order. Participation in the meetings is an indispensable presupposition for initiation into community prayer and fraternity life. There are 4 phases for a person to go through, before being professed into the Order. They are: Observer, Inquiry, Candidacy, and Profession.

Observer

Observer stage, is basically a time where an individual visits a fraternity to determine a possible vocation to the OFS. It is a time whereby an individual attends at least three (3) Fraternity meetings and may or may not proceed into the formation program.

Inquiry

The inquiry stage, is an invitation for an individual to go to fraternity meetings, for a period of six months to twelve months, in order to see if he or she has a vocation to be a Secular Franciscan. Once the visits are completed, the person interested in joining, is asked to write a formal request for admission to the Order. The letter must be submitted to the minister of the fraternity. The Council of the fraternity (which is the minister, vice-minister, secretary, treasurer and the master of formation) reviews the request through prayer. The decision is given to the person interested in joining, and to the brothers and sisters of the

fraternity.

The person interested in joining, once approved by the Council to proceed to formation, will be given a formation book for study. The lessons cover Franciscan charism and history, and deepen the understanding of what it is to be a Secular

Franciscan. At the end of Inquiry, if a vocation is discerned, the Inquirer is received into the start of the formation (candidacy) program and the Rite of Admission is performed.

Candidacy

Candidacy stage is the final period of formation. This time period is a minimum of 12 to 36 months, and culminates into permanent commitment to the Gospel life. Having completed the time of formation, the person interested in joining, submits a written request for profession into the Order. The letter must be submitted to the minister of the fraternity, and the Council. The Council of the fraternity, through prayer, decides collegially on the request. The decision is given to the person interested in joining, and if accepted, is professed. The Rite of Profession is performed according to the Ritual.

Profession

Temporary Profession, may proceed for a period of one but not to exceed three years. This is at the discretion of the Council of the day. Temporary profession is not the norm. Most people proceed to a perpetual state.

Perpetual Profession is for life. Articles received during profession are a copy of the Gospels, a Crucifix, and a profession candle or ring. Once professed, a Secular Franciscan goes through ongoing formation on the life and spirituality of St. Francis and St. Clare.