OFS Organizational Structure Franciscan Family Connections Ch 8

OFS Organizational Structure Franciscan Family Connections Ch. 8 1

Opening Comments • Principle of Subsidiary 2

Opening Comments • Servant Leaders Criteria: • Integrity & Competent – Professed, follows Franciscan way of life, attentive to the Church, with vision and open to dialog. (GC 31. 3) – Prepare and animate meetings, inspire life and soul into the fraternity by their own witness, carry out decisions and promote collaboration. (GC 31. 4) – Cherish peace and reconciliation. (GC 32. 1) 3

Opening Comments (Cont. ) • Servant Leaders Criteria (Cont. ): • Leadership is Temporary. (Rule-21; GC 32. 2) – Regular elections held by higher level. – Term limits. • Larger group (fraternity) is serviced by a smaller group (council) • International – Presidency • National – National Executive Council • Regional – Regional Executive Council • Local – Local Fraternity Council 4

Structure • All referencing back to the Rule and General Constitutions • Levels – International: CIOFS – National: NAFRA – Regional: St. Francis Region – Local: Your local fraternity 5

International – CIOFS (GC 69 – 75) • Composition – Intl. Council: Intl. OFS Councilors, Presidency, Franciscan Youth Reps, General Spiritual Assistants (4). – Presidency: General Minister, Vice General Minister, Presidency Councilors, Franciscan Youth Rep & General SAs (4) • http: //franciscan-sfo. org/image 2/Indeximg. jpg • http: //www. ciofs. org/portal/ 6

Encarnacion del Pozo, OFS General minister

International – CIOFS (GC 69 – 75) • Election: Presidency: • Duties 6 yrs. – Makes legislative decisions and gives norms in conformity with Rule & Constitutions. – Deals with international issues. • Interpretation of Rule and Constitutions – CIOFS has practical interpretation. – Holy See has authentic interpretation. 8

National – NAFRA (GC 65 - 68; NS 1 - 15) • Composition – National Fraternity: Regional Ministers, National Executive Council (NEC) and Conference of National Spiritual Assistants (CNSA) – NEC: Minister, Vice Minister, Secretary, Treasurer, at least one councilor (3 Councilors and International Councilor) and President of CNSA – http: //www. kateriregion. org/news 71 nafra 12. html 9

National – NAFRA (GC 65 - 68; NS 1 - 15) • Election: • Duties 3 yrs. – Has legislative, deliberative and elective powers within US. – Prepares & distributes National Statutes. – Deals with national issues. 10

Regional – St. Francis Region (GC 61 - 64; NS 21 - 26) • Composition – Regional Fraternity: Local ministers, Regional Executive Council (REC) and Regional Spiritual Assistants (RSAs) – REC: Minister, Vice Minister, Secretary, Treasurer, at least one councilor and President of Conference of Regional Spiritual Assistants (CRSA) (NS 23. 2) • http: //stfrancisregion. org/About-St-Francis-Region/2012 Regional-Chapter • http: //stfrancisregion. org/About-St-Francis-Region/2013 Chapter 11

Regional – St. Francis Region (Cont. ) • Election: • Duties 3 yrs. – Regional Fraternity (in chapter): Deliberative and elective power. – REC: Ordinary regional issues during the year. • Other Note: – Guidelines (Norms): • Statutes vs. Guidelines 12

Local Fraternity (GC 46 - 60; NS 16 - 20) • Basic unit of the SFO. • Canonically established by provincial with collaboration of the next higher OFS level. • Composition – Council: Minister, Vice Minister, Secretary, Treasurer, Formation Director, Councilors and Spiritual Assistant. 13

Local Fraternity (GC 46 - 60; NS 16 - 20) • Composition (Cont. ) – Council Duties: Promote initiatives necessary for fostering fraternal life… formation … & make concrete and courageous choices … in the field of the apostolate. (GC 50. 1) • Election: 3 yrs. 14

Local Fraternities (Cont. ) • Members participate in the life of the fraternity. – Profession requires all members to participate in community life including: ideas, support, service and financial. – Provide support for those who cannot. – Active/Active Excused & Lapsed defined. (GC 53. 3 & NS 18. 7. a, . b & NS 18. 10) – Candidates become members of the Order when admitted … 15

Local Fraternities (Cont. ) • Relationship to the church (parish and diocese). – We serve the Church! – Dialogue with and follow the directions of the local Ordinary regarding • Ministry of the Word and liturgy and • Various forms of apostolate. 16

Spiritual Assistants And the OFS

Spiritual Assistants (SAs) • Serve – At various levels of the OFS – Collaborate with their councils – As part of the family, responsible to keep the Franciscan charism alive in the Church and in the world. • Provincials appoint RSA & SA – (May be delegated. ) 18

SAs • OFS Structure and Franciscan Vision – Structure supports the vision. • There must be a balance. – Daily Conversion • SA’s personal experience of conversion leads to – Competence in assisting others. – SAs share insights about Franciscan spirituality. 19

SAs • OFS Structure and Franciscan Vision (Cont. ) – Vital Reciprocity: SAs both • ‘assist’ OFS and • ‘receive assistance’ from them which becomes • our gift to one another. – Common Vision – SAs work with council and members to give life to the Franciscan vision. – SAs animate, excite, engage and proclaim the Franciscan spirit by word, action, prayer and example. 20

Regional Spiritual Assistants (RSAs) • Visits fraternities: – Listens; evaluates what is observed and offers practical advice. – Must be able to understand, dialogue, keep peace, recognize problems and elevate the situation when necessary. – Collaborates. Can ask for help. • RSA is a leader who empowers people to contribute what they have to offer to the common good. 21

Conference of National Spiritual Assistants (CNSA) • Collaborates with the National Council. • Conducts fraternal visits and witness elections for the Church. • Foster the interest of the friars in the OFS and Franciscan youth 22

Conference of National Spiritual Assistants (CNSA) (Cont. ) • Duties: – Hold meetings; – Support RSAs, PSA and SAs; – Make recommendations to OFS; – Assist in development of training programs for RSA & SA • Appointment: Friars only; 3 year terms; 12 years maximum; Rotate President in Turn every 2 years 23

Geneology; Chronology; Structure of the Franciscan Family • Events and dates in the development of the Family. 1182 -1226 1193 -1253 1209 -1210 1211 1290 1323 1368 -1517 1525 -1528 St. Francis St. Clare Penitents of Assisi First Order - Friars Minor Second Order - Saint Clare (OSC) Third Order – Secular approved T. O. R. approved. OFM Observant / OFM Conventuals OFM Capuchins 24

Questions • 1. Why is it important to be aware of the organizational structure of the OFS? What is its value for a formator or SA? • 2. Explain the principle of subsidiarity. Why is it important in dealing with issues in the OFS? • 3. How well can you make OFS members aware of their international status? What difference does it make?

The Franciscan Family Connections Ch. 19 26

Opening Comments • Vital Reciprocity throughout the Family – SFO Rule & GC • Family Focus – Common Franciscan Vision – Collaboration between family members 27

The Franciscan Family • Catholic • Non Catholic • Outreach Groups 28

The Catholic Franciscan Family • 1 st Order – Friars Men Only – Order Friars Minor Observant (OFM) – http: //www. ofm. org/ofm/? lang=en – Order Friars Minor Conventual (OFM Conv) – http: //www. franciscanfriars. org/ – Order Friars Minor Capuchin (OFM Cap) – http: //olacapuchins. org/ 29

The Catholic Franciscan Family • 2 nd Order - Poor Clares OSC, and all expressions Women only; Usually Cloistered. – http: //poorclare. org/ – http: //poorclaressantabarbara. org/ 30

The Catholic Franciscan Family • 3 rd Order – 3 rd Order Regular TOR, and all expressions Groups of men or women; living in community. – – http: //www. franciscanstor. org/ http: //www. franciscanfriarstor. com/aboutus. php http: //feliciansistersna. org/ http: //www. franciscanbrothers. org/ – 3 rd Order Secular OFS Mixed individuals living in the world. – http: //www. nafra-sfo. org 31

Ecumenical Groups that follow Francis & Clare • Anglican Franciscans: Third Order of Saint Francis (TSSF) • Rev. Joan Verret, TSSF, representing the Anglican Third Order Society of St. Francis/ http: //www. tssf. org 32

Ecumenical Groups that follow Francis & Clare • Order of Ecumenical Franciscans: (OEF) • Craig Robert Miller, OEF, minister general of the Order of Ecumenical Franciscans https: //www. facebook. com/O rderof. Ecumenical. Franciscans 33

Ecumenical Groups that follow Francis & Clare • Atonement Franciscan Friars & Sisters (Graymoor) » http: //www. atonementfriars. org/ 34

Working Together: Outreach Groups (Note their Visions and Missions) • Franciscans International (FI) • http: //www. franciscansinternational. org/ • Franciscan Action Network (FAN) • http: //www. franciscanaction. org/ • Franciscan Federation (follow TOR rule) • http: //www. franfed. org/ • Poor Clare Federations/Associations • http: //poorclare. org/ • http: //www. capuchinpoorclares. org/ • Programs sponsored by provinces. 35

More Outreach Groups • OFS Ministries – Franciscan Family Apostolate (families in India) – http: //www. openhearts. org/ – Amazon Relief project (South America) – http: //www. amazonrelief. org/ – Franciscan Mission Services (Foreign & local missions) – http: //franciscanmissionservice. org/ 36

Our part: • We need: – To be aware of and support each other. – To share a living spirit, enshrined in living individuals and communities, to proclaim our Franciscan spirit. – To give what is ours to give in the best way possible, the Franciscan way. 37

Our part: • SAs and councils at every level are committed to nurturing Franciscans dedicated to and inspired by God. 38