Welcome to the Companions
Who are we?
Companions are Christians who feel called to be closely connected with the Society of Saint Francis through prayer, friendship, and by seeking to live the Gospel in the spirit and example of Saint Francis.
Companions are encouraged to subscribe to the Franciscan magazine, which offers updates on the life and work of the Society, reflections, upcoming events, and articles of interest. The magazine also includes a prayer leaflet listing the names of brothers and sisters in the First and Second Orders, the communities they belong to, and members of the Third Order. Additionally, it features a diary of ministries and engagements of the First Order within this Province. Through these resources, Companions can remain spiritually connected with the Society, support its members through informed prayer, and deepen their own commitment to Gospel living.
Companions are invited to develop a personal Rule of Life—a prayerful guide shaped by simplicity, service, and devotion. This Rule should be regularly reviewed and adapted as needed, fostering growth in the love and knowledge of Christ and encouraging others toward that same love.
I like being a Companion because it helps me stay connected with the Franciscans, and there aren't any meetings.
Jane
What Is Expected of a Companion?
A Companion undertakes to observe certain obligations and is encouraged to develop a personal Rule of Life inspired by the guiding principles outlined below.
Obligations of a Companion
- To pray regularly for the Society of Saint Francis and to support its mission and ministry through acts of generosity.
- To strive for simplicity in daily living, avoiding waste and unnecessary excess.
- To offer assistance to those in need.
- To seek opportunities to lead others to the knowledge and life of Christ.
Guiding Principles for the Rule of Life
- To pray to God each morning and evening.
- To read a passage from Holy Scripture daily.
- To hold the Eucharist as the central act of Christian worship, committing to a rule of regular communion.
- To make use of sacramental confession when guided by conscience.
- To set aside a portion of one’s income, according to a thoughtful and systematic plan, in support of those in need and the work of the Church.
- To be ready to offer service to others within one’s daily life and work.
- To deepen one's understanding of God and the Christian faith through spiritual reading, retreats, and conferences as opportunities arise.
- To review one’s Rule of Life annually, ideally around the Feast of Saint Francis (October 4th).
Why am I a Companion
Jo Drew
I have been a visitor to Alnmouth friary in Northumberland for over 17 years, off and on. And on reflection it has been a ‘thin place’ that has accompanied, sustained and provided a healing place on my Christian pilgrimage journey. However, it hasn’t just been the worship, building or environment that has led to my deeper Franciscan relationship but the very many people that I have had the privilege to encounter who have freely offered their spiritual support, their wisdom and memorable conversations as ‘companions along the Way.’
The very word ‘Companion’, to me, evokes acceptance, friendship and accompaniment. It is a term of warm embrace. Someone who helps, shares and encourages others. Companionship is a reciprocal action of relationship that embodies compassion and love. St Clare referred to herself as a ‘helper’. I like the simplicity of that statement.
And this is what, I believe, attracted me to become a Companion of St. Francis. It is walking alongside others on their faith journey. And they on mine. I often think of the Road to Emmaus. Two people walking along a dusty track encountering Jesus. As a listening presence. As a concerned and attentive soul. Eager to reassure, and ensure, that He becomes known to them.
After I was accepted as a Companion, I committed myself in several ways. I try to support my local Society of Saint Francis community – in prayer and Franciscan reflection; with my time as a fairly regular Guest Worker usually in the scullery or garden; through the provision of alms and subscription to The Franciscan magazine; and in generally being – hopefully – a companion to those I meet – whether on the street, at a place of worship, in the wider community – by referring to Jesus and the Gospel, St Francis and St Clare life’s teachings – and by offering hospitality at home. This is also integral to my calling to chaplaincy to the marginalised, community and in my offering as a Spiritual Accompanier through my training through the International Franciscan Studies Centre.
So, the privilege of reciprocal companionship and accompaniment is one that provides me with so much joy and sometimes much sorrow since life, in all its fullness, has so many ebbs and flows embracing brokenness, healing, reconciliation and transformation too. It is also a great happiness to meet with other people who embrace the Franciscan life and to travel along the road with them in often the most surprising, unexpected and illuminating ways! It would also be a joy to encounter or contact other Companions of St Francis but I am fully aware that distance and circumstances only separate us physically but not spiritually.
St Francis said – What you are before God, that you are and no more. I just pray, with an open heart, that the Lord will use me as He will in my desire to serve Him as a Companion of St Francis.
Paul Tyler
In 1978 I went to stay at a Cistercian abbey in Scotland, wondering if God was calling me to the monastic life. Although I came to see that I was not called in this way, not having the gift of chastity, I have been drawn to the contemplative life ever since. I had thought about becoming a Tertiary SSF, but as a parish priest my life has been rather inundated with meetings so I decided against this.
A year ago, amidst a late mid-life crisis, I came for a week’s retreat at Alnmouth Friary. Here I met Jo Drew. I had never knowingly met an SSF Companion before. I was struck by the fact that that she took part in so much of all the life of the Friary, both the rhythm of the worship and the daily domestic and gardening work. This seemed to me to be as near to the life of a monk as I was ever going to get, although I do see that living in community for any length of time has its own particular challenges and blessings.
I recently became a Companion and I have been spending the last five days at the Friary, worshipping, doing domestic work and making a wooden Tou cross to welcome folks as they reach the bottom of the drive. I have found this to be a profoundly moving time. To offer practical help has been to offer prayer, with the practical tasks and the work of prayer melding into one. I hope to come to the Friary about three times a year. Thank you to Jo, who is arriving to help at Alnmouth a couple of days after I go home.
Ken Thompson
I was encouraged to visit the Franciscans at Cerne Abbas as a young journalist in Manchester because my editor thought i needed to broaden my religious experience beyond Billy Graham’s evangelicalism. He himself had been given a lift by one of the brothers in Dorset. I did visit and was taken for walks by Brother Edward. I subsequently made other visits and also went on campaigns with Brother Edward, Donald Soper and others. Brother Edward told me I should join SSF otherwise I would go to university, meet a nice girl and get married. I chose the second option! I did get as far as ordination training at Lincoln Theological College, but took leave to complete a D.Phil at Oxford on ‘The Organizational Response of the Church of England to Social Change’. I then became a lecturer at the newly established Open University. Now retired, i sometimes wonder how I would have fared had I taken Brother Edward’s first option!