National Forms and Guidelines
- Guidelines for Council Agendas and Minutes
- 2024-07. Guidelines for Affiliates
- 2024-03. Guidelines for Fraternal Accompaniment
- Guidelines for Virtual Meetings
- Franciscan Code of Conduct
- Guidelines for Fraternal Record Retention
- Guidelines for Determining Stipends
- Guidelines for Councils in Conflict
- Guidelines for Suspension or Dismissal or Removal from Office
- Guide to the Canonical Establishment of a Secular Franciscan Fraternity
- Regional Archives
- Guidelines for the OFS Concerning Prison Ministry
- Clarification on Sexual Orientation and Sexual Identity Issues
- Fraternal Life during Social Distancing
- OFS-USA Guidelines for Nominations from the Floor
- National Election Procedures
- Procedures for OFS Members Who Enter an Invalid Marriage or A Same Sex Civil Union
- Belonging to the Secular Franciscan Order
Initial and Ongoing Formation Resources
Regional Forms
Request for Regional Visitation or Election
Regional Visitation Document Packet
Regional Election Document Packet
Treasurer Forms and Guidelines
- Banking–New Officer Letter [PDF]
- Bequests Brochure [PDF]
- Banking and Insurance Issues (Updated 2025) [PDF]
- Bequests: Preserving and Extending Our Secular Franciscan Way of Life (Updated 2025) [PDF] [Word]
- Help when applying for an Employer ID Number (EIN)–revised 2023
- Obtaining an Employer ID Number (EIN) Instructions-revised 2023
- Obtaining an Employer ID Number (EIN) Application – revised 2023 (Fillable PDF)
- NAFRA Statement of Purposes and Internal Controls [PDF] [Word]
- Record Retention [PDF] [Word]
- Traveler Guidelines – Policy on Reimbursement of Travel-Related Expenses (Updated 2023) [PDF]
- Questions frequently asked of the National Treasurer (updated 2018) [PDF] [Word]
- Treasury Guidelines: “How Much is Enough?” [PDF] [Word]
- Taxing Correspondence [PDF] [Word]
- Commission and Committee Annual Budget Request Form for 2026 Budget [Fillable Form]
- Certificate of Insurance Request [Word – Fillable] [PDF-Fillable]
- Request for Reimbursement of Expenses 2025 [PDF fillable]
- Treasurer’s Reporting Requirements [Word] [PDF]
- Fraternity Treasurer’s Annual Report [Excel] [PDF]
- Monthly Report to the Fraternity Council [Excel] [PDF]
- Fraternity Treasurer’s Worksheet [Excel] [PDF]
- Details of Monthly Expenditures [Excel] [PDF]
- Confidential Record of Donations Received [Excel] [PDF]
- Record of Donations Received – Fraternity Summary by Meeting Date [Excel] [PDF]
- Record of Donations Received – Fraternity Summary by Member [Excel] [PDF]
Other Resources
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- The Rule of the Secular Franciscan Order – 2020 Updated Translation in English & Spanish
- The General Constitutions of the Secular Franciscan Order (2000) – 2020 Updated Translation in English & Spanish
- Statutes of the National Fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order in the United States of America
- Statutes of the International Fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order (CIOFS) 2024 (English)
- Statutes of the International Fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order (CIOFS) 2024 (Spanish)
- Ritual of the Secular Franciscan Order – 2020 Updated Translation in English & Spanish
For Up to Now: Foundational Topics for Initial Formation (FUN Manual)
On the FUN Manual page, you will find these resources:
- Reflections on Formation Topics in the FUN Manual by Fred Schaeffer, OFS
- FUN CD Contents
- Various Other FUN-Related Documents
- Ordering Information
Note: While translation is still in progress, all materials will be made available in English, Spanish, and Korean
- Introduction to the Vocations Tool Kit [English]
- Prayer resources – now on Additional Prayer Resources
- Vocation prayers
- Prayer before the crucifix at San Damiano
- Franciscan vocation petitions
- OFS Come and See brochure [English] [Korean] [Spanish]
- Outline for Come and See session [English] [Korean] [Spanish]
- Come and See Digests
- Come and See presentation
- Instructions for creating vocations testimonials [English]
- Sponsor as Agent of Formation/Ceremony of Sponsorship [PDF]
- Mediation as a means of conflict resolution within the OFS [PDF] [PowerPoint]
- Prayer and St. Francis PDF on Traditional Franciscan Prayers
- NAFRA Public Relations Manual (2005). Undergoing revision
- Profession and Membership Status Primer – 12-7-2024
- Accessibility Committee: Quick Tips: Creating Access Using Minimal Effort for
Maximum Gain