Our Fraternity

We are an active community of Secular Franciscans servicing a wide area of communities in Maryland; Bowie/Crofton, Annapolis, Severna Park, Glen Burnie, and across the Bay bridge to Kent Island. As of November 2025, there are 20 active members of our Fraternity and 13 excused members who for some reason may not be able to come to our monthly gatherings, but who nevertheless contribute as much to the community by their sacrifices and prayers. We meet once a month at Our Lady of the Fields Parish in Millersville, MD, usually on the third Saturday of the month. We start our monthly gathering at 9:30 AM with Mass at the church, which is located at 1070 Cecil Avenue South, Millersville, MD then off to rooms 203/204 for our breakfast and fellowship and prayers.

One can feel the Franciscan charism in our meetings, creating an atmosphere of love and concern for one another, serving the poor in our communities, caring for the environment, actively participating in our parishes, and most of all, praying for the unborn and dignity of all God’s people. Our outreach goes beyond our own communities; we sponsor a family in India, serve meals at the Annapolis Light House, as well as collect small gift items for our seafarers in Baltimore through the Apostleship of the Sea.

If you feel that you are being called to the Franciscan Way of Life, come to our Open House or one of our monthly meetings to learn more. Once a year, we hold parish visits in over a dozen parishes where our members are active parishioners.

To inquire, please contact any of the following members of the Council:

Ruth Shea, OFS Minister ruthsheaofs@gmail.com 301-219-6347Jean Gaes, OFS Vice Minister Jrgofs@gmail.com. 240-495-5513Joe McHugh, OFS Treasurer joe4joan@verizon.net. 410-530-3106

Joan Faltot, OFS Secretary jd6bouv@verizon.net. 301-655-3876

Linda Haney, OFS Formation Director haneylinda42@yahoo.com 443-871-2124

Dave Weir, OFS Councilor daveweirofs@gmail.com. 410-969-7305

Mary Ann Novak, OFS Councilor manovak618@gmail.com. 586-202-7163

Br. Connor Bannon, OFM Cap Spiritual Asst. Bannonconnor@gmail.com

Is Christ calling you to walk in the footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi?

If you are interested in learning more about Franciscan spirituality, or possibly find yourself discerning a call to the Secular Franciscan Order, please join us. Inquiry is open to all Catholic men and women not members of another religious order or secular order and 18 years or older. Candidates must be practicing Catholics faithful to the teachings of the Church and loyal to the Apostolic See. The Secular Franciscan Order belongs to the Franciscan Family and is “formed by the organic union of all the Catholic fraternities, whose members, moved by the Holy Spirit, commit themselves through profession to live the Gospel after the manner of St. Francis in their secular state following the Rule approved by the Church” (Const. 1,3).

Is Christ calling you to walk in the footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi?

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