In the encyclic Redemptoris Missio( RM) the Pope John Paul II said, "It’s time to engage all the forces of the Church in the new evangelization and mission ad gentes. Anyone between the Christians, any church structure cannot avoid the import responsibility – to proclaim Jesus all nations”.
In answer to the appeal of the Church we, a small group of the Secular Franciscans, began to proclaim the kerygma and create the basis of the evangelic school.
In the first place the FSE is an answer of the group of Secular Franciscans to Jesus love, which gives real freedom.
Jesus excused us from death of revery and fear.
He saves us from power of sin and death.
He made us sons and daughters of Father.
We found light and reason for being, we found joy of life.
The experience of new life with Jesus is an inspiration for us to proclaim the Gospel to everyone, who doesn’t know it.
It’s a mission of the Church which we accept as an essential part of our Christian and Franciscan vocation (RM 34).
The legislation of the SFO approve the fraternities of Secular Franciscans of carring out of preparation for spreading the Gospel message "in the ordinary circumstances of the world” (Lumen Gentium 35) andand for collaborating in the catechesis within the ecclesial communities” (GC SFO 17,2).
Gaining inspiration from the example of Francis, who heartily proclaimed the penance, the members of the fraternity try to recreate the love, which st.Francis accepted the Word of God with and proclaimed it others.
The members of the Fraternity meet for better learnig of the Word and for of attainment of skills in evangelization and catechesis or another service in Church communities (GC SFO 102,2). In cooperation with Order of Friars Minor Capuchin in Ukraine the members of the SFO see to the spreading of the gospel message through the activity of the Franciscan School of Evangelization (GC SFO 102,2).
From the very beginning of the foundation the FSE joined the secular Franciscans from different places of Ukraine. After foundation of the first structures of the SFO in 1997 the FSE belonged to the regional fraternity of the Provisional Council of the Central Southern Region of the SFO. The Rule of the FSE passed its Council on 13th June in 1998. The FSE also had an acknowledgement on its activityfrom the Kamianets-Podilskyi Diocese.
In order to take part in evangelic activity the Council of the FSE takes help of Secular Franciscans from other local fraternities and from efficient persons, who don’t belong to the Order (GC SFO 100,2; 102,2; 103).
