The Secular Franciscan Order (SFO) is a religious order for lay men and women established by Saint Francis of Assisi. Profession is a life-long commitment to living according to the Rule of the Order of Secular Franciscans as approved and confirmed by Pope Paul VI in 1978.By our Rule, we are required to exist as a community. Our local community is called the San Damiano Fraternity and is based in Loveland, Colorado but the fraternity covers the northern front range of Colorado with members from Loveland, Fort Collins, Livermore, Greeley and Longmont. San Damiano is the name of the church where God spoke to Saint Francis and where Saint Clare and her community of Poor Clare nuns later lived. Our fraternity is part of a multi-state “Santa Maria de las Montanas” region. In the United States there are 31 regions and 741 local fraternities which have a total of 17,000 members.

The Secular Franciscan Order is open to all practicing Catholics. Joining a community of Secular Franciscans requires a period of discernment lasting approximately two and one-half years. This time of discernment consists of a period of orientation, a period of inquiry and a period of candidacy. A formal profession of vows marks the members’ entrance into the Secular Franciscan Order.

As a sign of their profession, members wear a “T” shaped cross called a Tau. This symbol is traced back to Ezekiel who spoke of people marked with the Tau indicating that they belonged to God.