María C. Núñez, sfo

All around the world, Secular Franciscan fraternities preserve and administrate houses, saloons hospitals, chapels, and churches, which throughout history have been received as a legacy from brothers and sisters belonging to the same Order.

In many cases, these properties are truly architectonic treasures. That is the case of the "La Tercera" church in the city of Bogotá, which belongs to the SFO Fraternity with the same name, and is one of the most beautiful jewels of the religious colonial architecture in the Colombian capital.

Secular Franciscans from the XVII century, as the case of Viceroy Solis and other committed "tertiaries" of that time, supported the construction of that temple offering it as a center for the Secular Franciscan Order of Bogotá, and which was solemnly inaugurated the 25^th of August of 1780 after 19 years of construction.

"La Tercera" is a very simple colonial church in its external side with a facade made of stones. Its exceptional beauty is on its inside since it is completely covered in wood and where the numerous altarpieces carved from cedar by colonial artists stand out.

This architectonic treasure not only is impeccably maintained and taken care of by the brothers and sisters from the "La Tercera" SFO fraternity but also it is truly a place of cult, prayer and communion in a very commercial and tourist busy area, in the center of Bogotá. The Secular Franciscans coordinate the whole of the liturgical activities that are daily celebrated there with the support from the OFM of the nearby Veracruz Parish.

Additionally, in a house next to the church operates the well known "Casa Rectora", center of the SFO Fraternity, where the mercy with the poor becomes alive and present. Weekly, needy aged people are attended, as well as young men and women and kids whose poverty find a relief in the supper and breakfast offered there every weekend, which totals more than 300 meals. Also, these people, kids and adults, receive the bread from the word of God that is offered to them through catechism.

It is worth mentioning here not only the material value of that architectonic treasure but also the commitment that has been inherited and transferred from generation to generation from the Secular Franciscans who, making an ecclesiastical task their own, have been given testimony of their presence and solidarity with the society that surrounds them since almost three centuries ago.

La Tercera Church inside	La Tercera Main Altar
Group at La Tercera Front Door	Minister with Beggar friend
Line for Breakfast	Spiritual Assistant serving coffee
Franciscans cooking weekly meals	Children at La Tercera House