francisclare2300@gmail.com

We Are A Progressive, Catholic Community

All are welcome to join

Prayer for those watching who cannot physically receive Communion:

In union, loving God, with the faithful at the altar where the Mass is being celebrated, I offer you thanks and praise.  I give myself to you that I will be united and since I cannot now receive physically, I ask that you come to me within my body and soul. May I live in you and you in me today and through all eternity.
AMEN.

Who We Are

Our Mission Statement

We, the family of the American National Church of Sts. Francis & Clare is a Catholic, Christian community that reaches to all God’s people by providing a living witness to all called from various and diverse backgrounds – all are welcome to the table of Jesus.

As followers of Francis, we we are called to celebrate the diversity and uniqueness of every person as God’s gift to us. In the spirit of Franciscan joy, we go forth to proclaim the Good News – using words if necessary.

We want to welcome the entire community who enjoys the warmth and love of our parish by participating in the sacramental life of the Church; especially those who have been turned away by others.

Sts Francis and Clare

2300 NW 9th Ave, Wilton Manors, FL 33311

Sunday Service 10:30 AM


Our Sunday service will be streamed every Sunday at 10:30 am on Facebook. Recording of our service can be viewed on our website within 72 hours.   


Call us at Franciscans Friary: (803) 257-0214.  Confession on request

You can make your Offering here

Services Available At The American National Church Of St Francis and Clare

Marriage

Marriages

We perform marriages at our church or a location special to you. We work with you to make this the beautiful and blessed event that it is intended to be.

funerals

Funerals

We officiate at funerals and memorial services, making this sacred time meaningful to those who both mourn and celebrate the passing on of our loved ones.

baptism

Baptism

We graciously baptize both children and adults and welcome them into God’s family.

American national church

Sts Francis and Clare

 Celebrating 20 years as The People Of God to the South Florida Community

Franciscans

As Franciscans, it is our goal as individuals to come together who wish to live and spread the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi.  

Francis saw that there were many people who lived on the margins of the society of his day.  The ones who were most outcast were the lepers that lived in a hostel outside the city of Assisi.  It was to these that Francis went to and ministered to.  Francis saw that there many others who were unattended and unloved.

In time, others were attracted to what Francis was attempting to do in his ministry to others.  It was not so much the work that attracted others, but the joy in which Francis lived and worked.  The joy in which Francis experienced came from that he was able to see Christ in those he ministered to.

Should you like to learn more about us, or should you wish to join us on our journey please let us know.  We would welcome you to join.

 

This is God’s house, a house of prayer for all people

What began Christmas Eve 2004 in a shared church building continues in our beautiful House of God.  If you are looking for a church home, please consider joining us in our worship experience. The uniqueness and diversity of each individual is welcomed and respected as it was with the earliest members of our Franciscan family as they began their journey of walking in the footsteps of Jesus of Nazareth in the manner of Francis and Clare of Assisi. 

We,  the Sts. Francis & Clare family are a Catholic, Christian community that reaches to all God’s people by providing a living witness to all called from various and diverse backgrounds – all are welcome to the table of Jesus.

As followers of Francis, we are called to celebrate the diversity and uniqueness of every person as God’s gift to us. In the spirit of Franciscan joy, we go forth to proclaim the Good News – using words if necessary.

We want to welcome the entire community to enjoy the warmth and love of our family by participating in the sacramental life of the Church; especially those who have been turned away by others.

May we all be instruments of God’s peace!

 

Christ is born in us

When Jesus was born, the compassion of God most truly broke into the world. Ever since that blessed event, the light of Christ has illuminated the world’s darkness with the power of divine love. Christmas celebrates this amazing presence.

Our hearts are now Christ’s Bethlehem. Although Jesus was born physically over 2,000 years ago, he is spiritually birthed every time a loving act is generated by the Creator and lived through us in some way.

The birthing of Christ in us and through us happens every day but we focus on it particularly as we celebrate Christmas. Whatever we do, be it participating in the joy-filled Eucharistic liturgies, gathering with loved ones for special food and the opening of presents, it is always through love that Christ enters our lives.

Christ is born in us through our unselfish kindness, generous help, gracious patience, understanding acceptance, compassionate care and many other ordinary loving gestures.

Look for love and remember Emmanuel is God-with-us. This great love continues to light up the darkness of our world today through human vessels like ourselves. We contain an enormous potential for Christmas-ing one another. Let’s do it today.

 

Our Gallery

Frequently Asked Quesions

What is the American National Church of Sts. Francis & Clare

We are a collection of individual Catholic faith communities bound together by covenant.

The Parish of Sts. Francis & Clare is not under or subject to the jurisdiction of the bishop of Rome; though we recognize the bishop of Rome as one of the many experiences of the Apostolic church.

We are guided by a Presiding Bishop who is elected.

What is the American National Church of Sts. Francis & Clare understanding of clerical celibacy

Clerical celibacy was not a requirement until 1274.  American National Church holds clerical celibacy as a charism for those who wish to practice that virtue.

We uphold the teaching of Jesus allowing individuals to respond to God’s call and therefore, marriage and ordination are not mutually exclusive.

Does the American National Church of Sts. Francis & Clare support the ordination of women to the ministerial priesthood and why?

 In the American National Church of Sts. Francis & Clare, women are encouraged to respond to a genuine vocation and participate in all ministry levels – lay or ordained. As St. Paul writes: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave or free, male nor female, all are one in Christ Jesus.”

What is the American National Church of Sts. Francis & Clare understanding of same-gender sexual relationships?

We are an open and affirming communion recognizing the value and dignity of every person, in our God-given diversity.

We promote the education and development of the People of God in their understanding of the diversity of their sisters and brothers.

All sexual relationships are to be guided by the Christian moral principles of love and fidelity. We uphold the ideal of committed relationships blessed by the sacred rites of the Church.

We believe that all questions of sexual morality are best addressed through pastoral care and counsel.

Who is the governing authority within the American National Church of Sts. Francis & Clare?

The people of the Parish of Sts. Francis & Clare are the governing authority. 

The Constitution establishes a polity structure including a House Laity, a House of Pastors, and an Episcopal Council – all possessing roles of decision-making and leadership in governing the Communion.

Please, pray with us as we make this journey together as a Local Church in communion with our sisters and brothers of the Church universal.

I’m interested in going to church but don’t know where to start?

Getting started with anything new is never easy.

One option would be to go to church with someone you know who does go. You could sit with them and they could help you by explaining what happens and so on. Perhaps they might introduce you to some others who are there.

If you’d rather go on your own then just plan to arrive five to ten minutes before the starting time. If you are feeling shy you can sit near the back or ask the greeter to seat you and you will often be introduced to a couple of people around you.

It’s also good if you’re new to a church to say hello to people you’ve never met before. Churches can be very friendly places and most folks are only too glad to be of help or to answer any questions that you might have.

Sts. Francis & Clare seeks to actively engage all people in the celebrations of life and community in the Catholic tradition. We take seriously the freedom of faith and conscience of the individual.

We strive to be an inviting and participatory Church, open to diversity, accompanying people in their life journey, a gathering of communities that are constantly being renewed, a Church that offers a home and protection, where each person can receive and live out their faith without fear. Our decisions are made by the laity, clergy, and bishop working together.

Our faith is celebrated together, rooted in tradition, and open to the future. We warmly encourage you to look at our many resources so that you may better understand our household of faith.

How is the American National Church of Sts. Francis & Clare catholic?

We uphold our catholic tradition for the following principles: The teaching and person of Jesus of Nazareth, the Scriptures, the Nicene Creed, the Sacramental and Liturgical traditions, and Apostolic Succession. We share a common theology and liturgical tradition.

Our deacons, priests, and bishops participate in the same historic Apostolic Succession as do the Roman, Eastern Orthodox, and other Apostolic Churches and we share the same historical developments of Western Christianity. 

We trace our modern roots to the emergence of the Old Catholic movement which began in 1870 as a response to the First Vatican Council’s pronouncement of Papal Infallibility. 

We recognize that the body of Christ, the Universal Church, includes all baptized Christians regardless of denominational affiliation. We are actively engaged in promoting Christian unity. 

We recognize the presence of the Spirit at work throughout the world in the faith experiences of other religions.

We affirm the divine presence in every human heart, believing that all people are beloved of God. Therefore, we seek mutual understanding and respect with those of other religions through dialogue and we seek cooperation in the endeavor for peace and justice in our world.  

Are you called? Be a brother of Saints Francis and Clare.

Prayer

Join with the friars in prayer, especially for the needs and intentions of Sts. Francis and Clare Parish, and vocations to the community.

Community

Spend time each month with the Friars as a spiritual guide through prayer, education and informal activities and discussion.

Service

Become actively involved in a variety of ways to offer assistance to our parish and the surrounding community as examples of Franciscan spirituality.

Growth

Experience your faith more deeply by exploring the joy and richness of a spiritual life led by Franciscan ideals.