History of St. Francis of Assisi Fraternity — Establishment
Fr. Valentine Jankowski, OFMConv, on November 24, 1987 requested permission from Most Reverend Patrick F. Flores, D.D., Archbishop of San Antonio to establish a Secular Franciscan Order Fraternity. Archbishop Flores, on December 2, 1987 responded, “I wish to acknowledge your letter of November 24, 1987 and I am happy to grant your request that you and the Conventual Friars formally establish a fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order. This will be for both men and women who are interested and will be under the direction of the Friars Minor Conventual.”
Fr. Valentine wrote to the Office of Custos, Conventual Franciscan Friars, Custody of Our Lady of Guadalupe, petitioning the establishment of a Secular Franciscan Order Fraternity at San Damiano Friary in San Antonio, Texas. Fr. Alfred Sartor, OFMConv, as Provincial Custos, on February 28, 1988, granted Fr. Valentine permission to establish an SFO Fraternity at San Damiano Friary.
In his letter, Fr. Alfred, stated he had already received a letter of approval from the Most Rev. Patrick F. Flores, Archbishop of San Antonio, dated December 2, 1987.
Fr. Alfred stated, “As Provincial Custos of the Conventual Friars of the Custody of Our Lady of Guadalupe, I grant you permission to establish an SFO Fraternity at San Damiano Friary under the guidance and instruction of our Custodial SFO Provincial, Fr. Alcuin Hunter, OFMConv. It will be his duty and privilege to officiate in the Ceremony to Establish a New Fraternity and to provide and appoint a Spiritual Assistant.
On March 22, 1988, the Decree of Establishment read: “In virtue of the faculties granted to our Franciscan Order by the Apostolic See, with the permission of the local Ordinary of the Diocese, after examination of the petition presented to us and in consultation with our Province Council, we hereby establish the Secular Franciscan Order Fraternity of St. Francis at San Damiano Friary, 1104 Kentucky Ave., San Antonio, Texas on March 22nd, 1988.”
Signed Fr. Alfred Sartor, OFMConv Minister Provincial and Fr. Alcuin Hunter, OFMConv., Provincial Delegate.