Vocations: Becoming a Lutheran Franciscan
Are you wondering what it's all about?
Have you felt a "nudge" by the Holy Spirit to look deeper and grow in your inner life?
The process of becoming a member of this religious order is rigorous. It isn't like joining a club; it isn’t even like joining a church. It’s a long and winding journey of discerning God's will for your life, specifically whether you have a calling to vowed religious life in this particular order.
Formation takes as long as it takes. These are the markers we use for our formation journey and process:
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Friends of the Order: Those who are called to accompany the sisters and brothers of this Order with prayer, financial support, advocacy, and through participation at events and gatherings of the Order. All serious inquirers start as Friends of the Order, and may move to postulancy (below) after a period of at least six months or to remain as a Friend with an annually-renewable covenant of commitment to the OLF. Read more about Friends of the Order here.
Postulancy: A formal inquiry process that includes a minimum of twelve (12) months learning more about the Order and our General Rule and practices, completing simple formation reflections, and growing in relationship with the siblings of the Order.
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Novitiate: An ongoing formation period, of at least five years, where siblings make annually-renewable vows as a Novice. These years include intentional formation as Lutheran Franciscans around the three vows of Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience, as interpreted by the Order.
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Life Profession: The permanent, lifelong commitment to the Order of Lutheran Franciscans, with all the rights and responsibilities of such profession. Life Professed siblings are full "members" of the community, and formation is considered ongoing for the rest of each sibling's life.
