top of page

Order of Saint Francis

A Contemporary Expression of Franciscan Tradition within the Anglican Communion

Please consider supporting our ministries.

We are a 501(c)(3) organization.

Peace and all good to you from the little brothers of the Order of Saint Francis (OSF)!

We are an active, Apostolic Christian religious order within the Anglican Communion, in communion with the See of Canterbury. Rather than living in an enclosed communal setting, OSF Brothers live independently in different parts of the world, with ministries based on the needs of their local communities. Members are baptized men who have been confirmed within the Anglican Communion who  voluntarily  commit  to  live by a set of professed vows for a term of years or for life. 

The order was founded in 2003 by Br Nicholas Kis. We are now blessed to have 23 vowed brothers serving Christ across the world.

Convocation 2022 Group.jpg

Due to COVID half the brothers met at DeKoven Center in person and the other half attended virtually this year.

2022 Convocation 6
Convocation 8
2022 Convocation 2
2022 Convocation 7
2022 Convocation 1
2022 Convocation 4
2022 Convocation 5
2022 Convocation 3

Images from 2022 DeKoven Convocation

sBrJohnR.png
Br. John Ryan

Living in Bereavement through The Christmas Season 


A series of events is being presented at St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church, Shoreline , Washington November 25, 2023 to January 6, 2024 to help folks through the Holiday Seasons. The facilitator is Br. John Ryan a Friar in the Order of St. Francis.
 John is an active member of the American Academy of Bereavement, a Therapeutic Touch Practitioner in Seattle and a Spiritual Counselor. 

Support offered at St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church, Shoreline, WA.  Information at: www.sdchp.org

November 25 - Meet and greet, how did Thanksgiving go for you? 

 

December 2 - Local support resources, telling our stories 

 

December 9 - Telling our stories and feelings of brokenness . 

 

December 13 at 7 p.m. - Blue Christmas Service in Sanctuary led by Fr. David Marshall our Priest and Pastor 

 

December 30 - How did Christmas go for you?  sharing stories; memories; longings, were family and friends helpful? 

 

January 6, 2024 - Share how the New Year Celebration this past year and years past may have differed for you.  After this meeting for those who wish there will be Group Healing Prayer and anointing. 

All Saturday morning gatherings (10 a.m. - Noon) are in room 9 (The Chapel) lower level of the building, use lower parking lot and entrance. 

 

Support Group is led by Br. John Ryan, Franciscan Friar and a member of the American Academy of Bereavement. 

 

We grow stronger by sharing our brokenness and pain.
 

After the close of this meeting the opportunity for Healing, Prayer, and Anointing will be offered for those who wish to participate. Handout material will be available at all gatherings to provide local resources in group and individual support.

Ordination to the Deaconate

 

Brother Les was ordained to the Sacred Order of Deacons in the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland on June 4th, 2022.

Br Les Ordination.jpg
sBrPaul.png
Br. Paul Dahlke

Going for a walk.. on the Pacific Crest Trail

For those of you that know Br Paul it does not surprise you that he likes to walk. He seems to prefer that mode of getting around more than any. Walking to work, walking to church, just walking. Miles of walking. So it should not have been much of a surprise to the brothers when he announced that he would walk the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT).

The PCT starts near the US Mexico border in California and winds it's way through the California, Oregon, and Washington state for about 2,650 miles. Many people attempt sections of the trail and a few brave souls attempt the whole thing.

After getting his permit for the trail he embarked on March the 3rd. Brother Paul said he did not pack any cooking devices such as a stove because it would just add extra weight. He packed very light. Luckily there are sufficient locations along the route to replenish supplies, get mail, take a hot shower, and eat to replenish your body's supplies. He mentioned that he has lost a lot of weight. It is early September and the last entry he made indicated he was near Leavenworth WA. We anxiously await the safe return of our brother.

To follow Br Paul's trip click here.

sBrAndrew.png
Br. Andrew Jones

Ministry at Saint Ann's Church for the Deaf

 

St. Ann’s Church for the Deaf is the oldest and first church for the Deaf in the United States. St. Ann’s was founded in 1852 by the Rev. Thomas Gallaudet and was incorporated into the Episcopal Church in 1854. Their first service in sign language was held on October 3, 1852 in the chapel of New York University.

 

I freely admit that my reason for starting to visit them in the fall of 2019 was just to brush up on my ASL and re-immerse myself in signing and the Deaf community. But that motivation quickly changed.  You see, St. Ann’s has been without a priest for over 8 years and they had been relying on the monthly visitation of a Deaf priest. The other Sundays utilized a very cobbled-together liturgy, led by a lay leader, of the distribution of the Blessed Sacrament from the presanctified elements.

Br Andrew signing.JPG

Our Bishop strongly desires that when the services of a priest are not available, the principle service be one of the daily offices. The Office of Morning Prayer was completely alien to this congregation so I quickly fell into the task of introducing them to, and shepherding them through, the morning office.

St Ann Deaf - Zoom Studio 01.png

Epidemics emerge along the fissures of our society, reflecting not only the biology of the infectious agent, but patterns of marginalization, exclusion and discrimination. The coronavirus pandemic is no exception. COVID-19 has revealed deep social and economic failures and will reinforce existing health inequities. Before COVID-19, nearly 700 people were dying every day from poverty and inequality, yet the legislative response does not account for the 140 million people who are poor or one emergency closer to being poor today.

logo-header_53dc9fdd.png

Poverty takes an enormous toll on this country and its people every day. The economic and social costs of poverty and the injustices of systemic racism, militarism and ecological devastation are unsustainable. The United States has the wealth to end these interlocking injustices, but the political will is lacking. This is why we are organizing among those most impacted by these injustices to compel this country to take action. Fight poverty, not the poor!

In the U.S. today, 52.1 percent of children under the age of 18 are poor or low-income (38.5 million children). When more than half of our children do not know if they will have a place to sleep, nutritious meals, and safe communities, we are failing our families and compromising the future of this country. It does not need to be this way. We have abundant resources for our children.

Militarism and violence are the hallmarks of U.S. policy at home and abroad. From war to mass incarceration and beyond, these policies amplify poverty, racism and environmental degradation. They can and must change.

sBr Allen White.png

Br Allen White

Saint Francis Of Assisi Research Library

LibraryAnnex-1.jpg

On behalf of the The Saint Francis of Assisi Research Library, Brother Allen White, OSF and the library staff we wish you peace and all good! You are most welcome here! 

Launched in the summer of 2018 with the gift of just four books on the Poverello, the Saint Francis of Assisi Research Library officially launched its website and opened its doors to the public on the Feast of Saint Francis, October 4, 2020. Since its founding, the library has grown to become one of the largest research libraries of its kind in the world dedicated exclusively to the life, history, and study of Saint Francis of Assisi.

Our library’s ever-growing catalog of more than 800 books in 40 unique collections includes the titles of some of the world’s most recognized Franciscan scholars and authors writing on Franciscan philosophy, theology, spirituality, and history from the 13th to the 21st century. As such, the library is a Franciscan athenaeum—a sanctuary for anyone interested in learning about the Franciscan intellectual and spiritual tradition.

And working right here from our humble home within Hope Center Houston, our library’s mission is to celebrate and share the life and legacy of Saint Francis of Assisi with the world through its research, education, advocacy, and personal ministry of Franciscan friar, Brother Allen White, OSF.

Finally, as a proud member of ATLA (American Theological Library Association), we are also a lending library offering most of our catalog, research assistance, and resource materials at little or no charge to registered friends of the library, including the brothers of the Order of Saint Francis (OSF), the world-wide Franciscan family, and both students and scholars alike working on various Franciscan research and writing projects around the world.

For now, we hope you’ll take the time to look around and enjoy exploring all the resources of this website, including our catalog powered by Library Thing and Tiny Cat. But when you are ready, we look forward to meeting you face-to-face, providing you with a personal tour of our world-class Franciscan book collections, and introducing you to our beloved Saint Francis of Assisi whose imitation of Christ and timeless message of humility, peace, and love for all of creation still lives in our minds and burns in our hearts today in the twenty-first century.

BrAllen3_SaintFrancisLibrary.jpg
BookcaseStFrancisLibrary.jpg
bottom of page