Siena College Friary

Friary News

  • The friars welcome three new members of our community: Bishop Capistran Heim, O.F.M., retired from many years of missionary work in Brazil; Fr. Russell Murray, O.F.M., who will be the new Director of the Franciscan Center for Service and Advocacy; and Bro. Edgardo Zea, O.F.M., a friar in formation who is spending his internship year with us.
  • See slide show of Fr. Linh Hoang's first Mass at Siena on May 20, 2009.

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Secular Franciscans

The Secular Franciscan Fraternity of St. Bernardine of Siena


St. CrossA Secular Franciscan observes 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. Secular Franciscans are lay people—men and women, married and single, young and old, rich and poor, who live the Gospel in their own circumstances.

Secular Franciscans take no special vows, pursue their own careers and live as other Christian laymen and women in the secular world, except they are an Order of people who publicly commit themselves to follow a Way of Life which the Church has officially approved and recognized as being in accord with the Gospel.

Secular Franciscans are practicing Catholics who answer the call from the Lord to enter into a deeper relationship with Him. The uniqueness of a Secular Franciscan is marked by

  • a childlike devotion and obedience to God
  • love of all people
  • esteem for all God’s creatures
  • inner repentance
  • sincere humility
  • confident patience in temptations
  • perennial cheerfulness
  • a high regard for all kinds of work
  • devotion to Immaculate Mary, and
  • loving and sincere loyalty to the doctrines and directives of Holy Mother Church.

The St. Bernardine of Siena Fraternity meets at St. Francis Chapel on 145 Wolf Road in Colonie on the second Sunday of each month. For more information contact Donna Ferlazzo at 518-608-5234.