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Peace to All who Enter here!

From our Rule - Article 4

The rule and life of the Secular Franciscan is this: To observe the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ by following the example of St. Francis of Assisi, who made Christ the inspiration and the center of his life with God and people.

Christ, the gift of the Father's love, is the way to him, the Truth into which the Holy Spirit leads us, and the life which he has come to give abundantly.

Secular Franciscans should devote themselves especially to careful reading of the gospel, going from gospel to life and life to the gospel.

The Brothers and Sisters of San Damiano Fraternity is a community of Catholic men and women, located and affiliated with the Catholic Center of the University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia. We are a local unit of the worldwide Secular Franciscan Order, following The Rule promulgated in 1978 by Pope Paul VI and the General Constitutions of 2000. In life-giving union with other fraternities of the Brothers and Sisters of Saint Francis Regional Fraternity, and the National Fraternity of the United States, our members are men and women, married or single, who "seek to encounter the living and active person of Christ in their brothers and sisters, in Sacred Scripture, in the Church, and in liturgical activity" (Rule 2:5). To that end, our lives are centered on the Eucharist, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and the radical and on-going conversion (metanoia) demanded by the Gospel.

We believe that we cannot fulfill our vocation as human beings and as Christians alone. By our profession of the Rule, we seek, first and foremost, to build a strong sense of community among our members to nurture and support our commitment to live our lives, in our home and work situations, according to the Gospel. That community extends to union with the entire Franciscan Family, in our service to the Roman Catholic Church and to our parish and local community. We strive to promote simplicity of lifestyle, peace and justice for the entire human family, and "respect for all creatures which bear the imprint of the Most High" (Rule 2:18). Emulating Saint Francis, we pledge ourselves "through our Baptism and Profession to proclaiming the 'Good News' by our life and words" (Constitution Ch II, Art. 17), going constantly "from Gospel to life and life to Gospel" (Rule 2:2).

We promote and encourage the development and spiritual growth of our members by providing the opportunity to come together at our monthly gatherings for liturgical prayer in common, Franciscan and Scriptural meditation or reflection, on-going formation, works of apostolate, and social interaction.

We provide opportunities for fostering and encouraging new vocations through "open house" programs, publicity releases to the local parish media, and personal recruitment.

We endorse, confirm, and seek to implement all judgments, decisions and programs of the Regional Fraternity, the National Fraternity of the SFO-USA, and the International Fraternity in Rome.

We are not a club, society, or an organization like the Altar Society, CYO, Knights of Columbus, Holy Name Society, or the like. Rather we are a special movement of grace in the very heart of the Church and a specific way of life for Christian living which intensifies a person's faith-life and can give direction to prayer and service. We are an international Order founded by St. Francis of Assisi over 750 years ago. There are approximately one thousand fraternities of Secular Franciscans scattered throughout the United States. Here at the University of Georgia Catholic Center, our fraternity - called the “The Brothers and Sisters of San Damiano” after the church where St. Francis received his call - meets monthly on the first Monday, from 7:30 to 9:00 PM, for instruction and discussion of Franciscan life, ideals, and spirituality. In addition our Council meets at 7:00, before the monthly meeting, to handle the business of the fraternity.

To contact us, please email Julie Lorenz, Vice Minister, or Barbara Smith , Director of Formation. For more information on Secular Franciscans, visit the website of our national fraternity.