Who or What are Secular Franciscans?
The Secular Franciscan Order is not an organization like the Knights of Columbus, the Confraternity, or the St. Vincent De Paul Society. In fact it is not an apostolate it is a Franciscan Order approved by the Church.

The Secular Franciscans Order is a Way of Life for men and women, married or single, and secular clergy who are called to take an active part in the mission of Christ to bring "the good news of salvation" to the world.

Francis was the founder of three orders
FRANCIS, the saint known and loved the world over, "discovered" Jesus. He found Him in the Gospel, saw Him in the poor and suffering. Francis made up his mind to identify himself with his crucified Lord. Saint Francis attained this marvelous ideal by making the holy Gospel, in every detail, the rule and standard of his life.

Others wanted to live as Francis lived, men and women, married and single. Eventually, his followers were gathered into three distinct Orders of the Church. The First Order was for men (brothers and priests, called friars); the Second Order was for cloistered nuns (Poor Clares); and the Third Order was for lay men and women, married or single, and the secular clergy. Francis made the Gospel, with Christ Crucified at its center, the supreme norm of life for all his followers. He gave each of the three Orders a written rule, which were summaries of the Gospel and guidelines to its perfect observance. But there is a difference between them. The first two are religious orders. Their members take the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, and leave their homes to live in communities. The third is a secular order, whose members make promises of commitment and remain in their own homes. Yet they are motivated and formed by the same spirit of Saint Francis to fulfill the ideals and responsibilities of their state of life within the faith-community of the Church.

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The National Chapter of SFO, India  - Photographs