St. Louis Fraternity, Rochester MN - Secular Franciscan Order

Welcome! The St. Louis Fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order in Rochester, MN, celebrated their 60th Anniversary on November 20th 2008, at the Resurrection Church in Rochester. Minister Ramona Digre, S.F.O., welcomed members and guests. Sandy Rumstick, S.F.O., gave a history of the fraternity. Formation director Larry Price S.F.O. welcomed Margaret Schmid our new inquirer to our Fraternity family.

St. Louis Fraternity began on February 1948, when Fr. Louis D. O'Day was the officiating priest at the reception of eleven people, including himself. The fraternity enjoyed its largest membership during the 1950's, with a total of fifty members Currently, there are 15 active members, with Sister Rafael Tilton, O.S.F., as Spiritual Director. The fraternity has hosted several large gatherings of Secular Franciscans such as the Queen of Peace Fall Gathering in Kenyon, October 7, 1998, and the National Fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order Council Gathering, at Assisi Heights in Rochester, October 13 - 18, 2002. Assisi Heights is the Motherhouse of the Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Lourdes. The Queen of Peace is our Regional Fraternity, and includes four upper mid-west states.

Day retreats, yearly trips to the Franciscan Retreat Center in Prior Lake, Queen of Peace gatherings, and family picnics have been among the activities offered. All members of the fraternity are involved in parish work and many members contribute their time and talent to community service. This fraternity, along with charitable service, devotes many hours to spiritual study and enriching their prayer life.

The fraternity meets every third Thursday of the month at the Church of Saint John the Evangelist in Rochester at 5:45 PM. If you are a Catholic Christian, and desire to stay faithful to the Catholic Church's teachings, the Gospels, and study the life of St. Francis, please come and join our fraternity as guests during our monthly meetings.