Central New Jersey Cluster

The basic tenet of the Central NJ Cluster's ministry is the education of its members through a strong sense of community.  Through this sense of community and an emphasis on communication, the Cluster's ministry is built, and programs developed and established, for the benefit of those marginalized in society.  Although not usually considered marginalized, youth is a focus of the Central NJ Cluster's efforts.  Present work in this regard is centered on finsing ways to involve youth in meaning social projects.  To this end the Cluster has published a few articles on the family in the Newsletter "The Troubadour."

An important aspect of community involvement is the ongoing formation of its members to the lived Franciscan experience.  As part of this formation endeavor, the Cluster is always searching for appropriate speakers to impart informed information for its members' edification.  At each meeting meaningful subjects are discussed with members participating in a discussion of the chosen topic.  At two recent meetings, teaching on the Ten Commandments was conducted.

Considering the large geographical area covered by the 15 member fraternities in the cluster, the gatherings are well attended.

As it appears to be with other fraternities in the Region, the Central NJ Cluster is facing an aging membership. As a result, the Cluster is grappling with the evangelization and promotion of vocations to the Secular Franciscan Order.

A sermon which Francis heard in 1209 on Mt 10:9 made such an impression on him that he decided to devote himself wholly to a life of apostolic poverty. Clad in a rough garment, barefoot, and, after the Evangelical precept, without staff or scrip, he began to preach repentance.

He was soon joined by a prominent fellow townsman, Bernardo di Quintavalle, who contributed all that he had to the work, and by other companions, who are said to have reached the number of eleven within a year. The brothers lived in the deserted lazar-house of Rivo Torto near Assisi; but they spent much of their time traveling through the mountainous districts of Umbria, always cheerful and full of songs, yet making a deep impression on their hearers by their earnest exhortations..

During his lifetime, many married men and women asked St. Francis to embrace his style of life, but of course, due to their secular state, they were not able to enter into the First Order or into the Poor Clares. For this reason, he founded a Secular order to which lay and married men and women could belong and live according the Gospel. Nowadays, this part of the Third Order is known as Secular Franciscan Order and is numerous and spread around the world. The original Rule, given by St. Francis in 1221, was slightly modified during the centuries to be adapted to the changing times, and now the last one was given by Pope Paul VI in 1978.

The Secular Franciscan Order, known as the Third Order Secular of St. Francis prior to 1978, is an order founded by St. Francis in 1212 for brothers and sisters who do not live in a religious community. Members of the order continue to live secular lives, however they do gather regularly for fraternal activities. In the United States alone there are 17,000 professed members of the order.