About the Order – Order of Saints Francis and Dominic

Welcome to the heart of the Order of Saints Francis and Dominic…

…where tradition and modernity converge in a harmonious dance of spirituality and service.
Rooted in the enduring legacies of Sts Francis and Dominic,
we are Companions on the Journey,
weaving together the sacred threads of shared wisdom, diversity, and a commitment to unity.
As we navigate the paths inspired by our patron saints, we invite you to explore the unique tapestry that defines our community
— a tapestry that celebrates both the timeless traditions of our faith and the vibrant spirit of our ever-evolving digital sanctuary.

Our Order

Our Journey Together

In the spirit of Saints Francis and Dominic, “Companions on the Journey,” we embrace the sacred act of wandering. Just as Francis wandered the hills of Umbria and Dominic traversed the roads of medieval Europe, we journey together, guided by shared values and a commitment to unity.

Our Mission

The harmonious fusion of Franciscan simplicity and Dominican preaching is at the heart of our mission. We strive to embody the essence of our patron saints, promoting a life of humility, compassion, and dedication to the teachings of Christ.

Digital Pilgrimage

In this age of interconnectedness, our virtual sanctuary serves as a modern-day pilgrimage site. Navigate through our online presence, discover shared stories, engage in discussions, and find inspiration for your journey, whether you walk a monastic path or pursue a secular calling.

Embracing Diversity

As companions on this journey, we celebrate our community’s diversity of backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences. Our order is an inclusive space where individuals from all walks of life come together to explore the depths of spirituality and shared humanity.

Companions in Unity

We find companionship in unity, drawing strength from the harmonious blend of tradition and modernity. The leaves, branches, open books, and radiant flame within our emblem symbolize the diverse elements contributing to our collective growth and understanding.

Join Us

Whether you seek spiritual insights, shared wisdom, or the camaraderie of fellow travelers on life’s journey, we invite you to explore what service to the People of God means to you. Explore the intersections of your own path with ours and contribute to the shared narrative of the Order of Saints Francis and Dominic.

Our story

Our joyrney so far

The Order of Saints Francis and Dominic is a newly developing religious order attempting to redefine what it means to be in service to the People of God.

We are in the process of building a solid foundation based on recognizing the sacred in each person we encounter. We are focused on the teachings of the +Christ – by that we mean we are focused on the teachings of love, compassion, forgiveness, healing, and returning to the presence of God.

We try to live the concepts we celebrate; gently guiding and bringing ministry back to a Christ-centered community.

Our Charism

Companions

We are rooted, first and foremost, in the celebration of the teaching of the +Christ through the Divine sacrifice of the most holy Eucharist through service to the People of God.

We are women and men practicing the teachings of our forebearers, Francis and Dominic, trying to live the examples Jesus gave so many years ago.

We are preachers, teachers, healers, and advocates dedicated to truth, social justice, and living an intricately intimate existence with our Lord.
While we are on our sacred journey, we share God’s presence through service and teaching.

We do NOT lead others astray through our arrogance or misinterpretations. We continue to discern and better ourselves through study, prayer, and physical and emotional wellness. We work on ourselves and learn to prepare a way lit by the Spirit and paved with the hard work and dedication of those who have gone before us.

Learn more

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible to join the order?

Our Order is open to all baptized women and men regardless of social status, age, state of health, or sexual orientation. Prospective members must have any impediments to Holy Orders and be able to, and then participate with a Church community within the Anglican Free Communion International.

How long will it take to join the order?

There is no universal timeline. Essentially those who are called are already living a religious life, whereas those who feel they need to meet a deadline, wear a habit, or dress up and play monk are failing to understand the real nature and seriousness of religious life.
Once you have prayed about your vocation and truly engaged in the discernment process, if you feel that this is truly what God is calling you to do — to live fully and authentically the life our +Christ taught in the Gospel — then you have already begun to walk the sacred journey.
If you are concerned at all with the rankings of Postulancy, Novitiate, Profession, and Life Profession then you are focused on the wrong thing. Focus, instead, on knowing God, living the Gospel, and loving everyone as if they were the +Christ. Everything else will fall into place in its own time.

How is a religious life defined?

Religious life is devoting one’s life to God. Our Order defines “religious life” as a commitment to the +Christ and our secular community members, by following the Gospel message and the spiritual teachings of Sts. Francis and Dominic. We live our vows of Simplicity, Dedication, and Conversation. We believe each of us is called to share the unique gifts given to us by the Holy Spirit toward the love and betterment of the People of God.

What does a religious life within the OSFD look like?

As a contemporary expression of Franciscan and Dominican life, religious life varies from member to member. Even so, there are many common threads that bind us together. Outside of daily prayer and a commitment to Anglo-Christian theology, many members find their niche by living out their various callings to the best of their abilities. These roles range from visitation of the sick to assisting or conducting a regular Church service, to feeding the hungry, and much more. We see a need and we fill it, always with an eye toward seeing and serving the +Christ in all human beings.

What are the requirements to join?

There are several requirements to join – all of which were created to ensure the People of God are not harmed. The path is different for every person called to religious life. It all begins with a conversation. Visit our Vocations page for more information.

Do I need to be Anglican or Catholic to become a member of this order?

If you are called to the priesthood, then yes, you need to be both baptized and a member in good standing within the Anglican Free Communion International. We do not ordain in the order – we commit to a life of living the +Christian message.
If you are seeking only to be a companion or lay Sister or Brother, then not necessarily. However, be aware that we celebrate the Anglo/Catholic liturgical calendar as our expression of a faith community.

Is there an age limit to membership?

Yes. We have a lower age limit of 18 years-old. We expect that member are able to financially support themselves. We also expect a certain level of maturity and emotional stability. If you’re called, you’re called but we must all be adults. If a family is called to live a religious life, we will examine what that means for children within the family to avoid exclusion; however, as we are structured differently than other religious orders — living in the world and each being financially responsible for ourselves — we cannot accept underage members without family participation.

Do the Sisters and Brothers have jobs outside the Church?

We expect members within the order to be completely self-sufficient. Saint Francis expected his members to earn their keep by doing honest work for their meals. What it means to be self-sufficient is different for each member. Some work in secular jobs while others work in churches or other paid ministries. Some are full-time students and others are independent of working situations due to physical or other restrictions.

What about my house and my financial situation?

Since we work in the world, we have worldly responsibilities and needs. We need a roof over our heads, meals on our tables, and bills to be paid.
The goal of religious life is not to free oneself from material things but to free the mind of being owned by our things – to live simply within our means. As with all things, that will look different from member to member.

What are the vows?

Great question! Let’s take a deeper look:
(**The old names for vows are in the parentheses)
Simplicity (Poverty), in the secular world, is usually understood as lacking financial means or not owning things. For us, this vow is about intentional poverty of the mind and soul – a life aimed at reuniting our hearts with our +Christ. Members in our order choose varying degrees of simplicity and express their vows in a variety of ways. This will look different for each member. We encourage you to explore what simplicity means to you.
Dedication (Chastity), Members today may be single or married/partnered. The order promotes relationships as characterized by fidelity, mutual affection, and respect; careful, honest communication; and a love that enables each partner to see the image of God in each other.
Members do not engage in unhealthy promiscuity, exploitation, and abusiveness in any form.
The order will hold all members accountable to these values.
Conversation (Obedience), is obeying the will of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and submitting to requests made by the Minister General, the precepts of the Order and the Church: a discipline which allows one to cultivate humility.

Since you are spread out, how do you worship together?

The brothers each have a personal altar in their residence. The size and placement of this altar is at the discretion of each brother. This home altar is vital to a religious life as it provides focus and aids in religious discipline. Brothers that live in proximity sometimes share worship at church services, and the annual Convocation is a time of gathering for corporal worship. St. Francis would say that each brother carries their cell with them a reference to our Benedictine brothers. It is said that at the appropriate time of day, St. Francis would fall to his knees, wherever he was, and pray each of the Daily Offices even if it was just to say our Lord’s prayer.

Speaking of habits…

Yes, we can/do wear habits. For those who have been invested with the habit (i.e. Novices and above), the habit is worn at all official services of the Church and of the order. It is up to each member when they are conducting any kind of official ministry.
At other times, members may wear a “work habit” (typically plain pants and a brown or black shirt, sweater, hoodie, etc.), and it is expected that he will always wear a cross, which is presented to the member at the time of their induction into the order.

Since you are spread out, how do you worship together?

Members have personal worship spaces in their residence. The size and placement of this space is at the discretion of each member. This home worship space is vital to a religious life as it provides focus and aids in religious discipline. Members who live in proximity sometimes worship together. Some members carry their worship space with them everywhere they go – in their heart and soul.

What is FAQ?

Are the brothers of the Order of St. Francis considered ministers/priests?
Priests can be friars but friars don’t have to be priests. We take vows which are separate from the vows to Holy Orders that priests take. St. Francis refused the order of the priesthood; yet, toward the end of his life he was ordained as a deacon. We generally are not priests or deacons, but may be if called by God.