YOUFRA Young Franciscans A way of Franciscan Vocation

“ YOUFRA ” Young Franciscans

A way of Franciscan Vocation

Young Franciscans You. Fra as underlined in the Secular Franciscan Order General Constitutions Article 96 -97

History • Initiated in Italy in 1948 by Franciscan Order of Friars Minor. It started as GIFRAC (Gioventu Francescana di Azione Catolica) “Franciscan Youth of the Catholic Action” • In 1954 adopted by the Capuchins • In 1958 by the Conventuals and the Third Order of Saint Francis • In 2009 all these youth Franciscan movements became united. • Today it is one International Young Franciscan movement spread in more than 60 countries worldwide.

What is You. Fra Young Franciscans or You. Fra is a Catholic movement of young people who in the same manner as Saint Francis of Assisi served Jesus in the same manner as He did and formed as an integral part of the Secular Franciscan Order

Spiritual Characteristics • formed by young people from age 14 - 30 years old (Const. 96. 2) • attracted to Saint Francis of Assisi and his way of life • who feel are called by the Holy Spirit to deepen their vocation (Const. 96. 2) • to share in the experience of Christian life in fraternity • in the light of the message of St. Francis of Assisi deepen

Organizational Charateristics • Franciscan Youth has a specific organization (Const. 96. 5) • An organization with its own constitution • It’s own financial resources • Its own local, regional, national fraternities • Its own elected leaders • Having SFO providing support, mentoring, guiding and assisting with their formation and structuring support system in every level, always ever ready to invite them to pursue a deepening adult vocation to the Franciscan Gospel life as professed SFOs. • Teaching method adequate for the needs of the world youth

Specific Characteristics • Young persons attracted to St. Francis, who wish to deepen their Christian and Franciscan vocation. • Young persons having the feel of the call of the Holy Spirit to undergo, in fraternity, the experience of Christian life. • Progressive discovery of St. Francis, his project of life and his values. • Ecclesial and social presence, in order to have concrete apostolic experiences. • They accept the Rule of the SFO as an inspirational document.

• Having personal and formal commitment made before GOD and the fraternity to live that inspiration. “ The Promise” • An integral part of the SFO and belonging to the Franciscan Family, the accompaniment and animation is provided by the lay Franciscans. • The proper National Statutes approved by the National Council of the SFO or, in its absence, by the Presidency of the CIOFs, which sets the conditions to belong to the Franciscan Youth.

You. Fra’s Vocational Journey • You. Frans deepen their vocation in the light of the message of St. Francis through an itinerary of progressive and on going formation. Vocational discernment being the main focus and their journey is made up of stages: a) Initiation b) Formation of the Promise in the You. Fra c) Deepening One’s Vocation

Form and Contents of You. Fra Formation • You. Fra teaching methods adequate for the needs of the world youth. (Const. 96. 5) • According to the existing realities in various countries (Const. 96. 5)

Organization of You. Fra (Fraternity) • Local • Regional • National • International

Relationship between You. Fra and SFO • SFO responsible for You. Fra being part of its own pastoral service to the youth and promotions of vocations. (Const. 96. 2) • You. Fra considers the SFO Rule as an inspirational document and accepts it individually and as a group. (Const. 96. 3) • You. Fra as component of the Franciscan family, an integral part of SFO. (Const. 96. 6 & 97. 3) • You. Fra representative forms part of the SFO Council

• You. Fra representative in international council are elected according to the international statutes (Const. 97. 5) • You. Fra joining the SFO (Const. 96. 4) • Belonging simultaneously to Franciscan Youth and to the SFO. • SFO as Fraternal Animator of the You. Fra • SFO providing Spiritual Assistance to You. Fra

Building and Rebuilding You. Fra • SFOs responsibility to build viable and active You. Fra movement and organization. • Strong need for NAFRA to envision, initiate and spur nationwide You. Fra movement. • Regional Fraternities and their councils will primarily do and work with local fraternities.

This will require: • • Establishing a national You. Fra vision and goals through collaborative national youth commission. Facilitating national networking and communication with regional and local OFS Franciscan Youth chairs, and with You. Fra members and leaders as they emerge. Initiating communications and outreach project to connect with young adults who are interested in forming You. Fra fraternities. Developing new You. Fra materials and curriculum formation and servant leadership

• Developing initial draft guidelines for You. Fra formation. • Disseminating successful models for You. Fra fraternities. • Hosting annual regional gatherings for You. Fra and OFS. • Training SFO who have gifts and vocation to work with You. Fra as animators. • Facilitating a new generation of You. Fra to eventually take over responsibility for building the basic infrastructure, remembering “more charism , less structure” to foster a perpetual, viable, and dynamic You. Fra movement

SFO as Animators of You. Fra • As SFO, by virtue of our vocation, we must be ready to share our experiences of evangelical life with the youth who are attracted to Saint Francis and to seek the means of adequately presenting it to them. • SFO should see the vitality and the expression of the Franciscan Youth fraternities and should accompany the youth in their journey of human and spiritual growth with proposal for specific activities and contents. • SFO as fraternal animator is a fundamental presence supporting young people in their discernment, especially regarding their Franciscan vocation.

• As fraternal animators we must work within SFO fraternity to foster proper understanding of the importance of You. Fra, to involve it in its activities and to encourage a sense of responsibility for You. Fra. • As fraternal animator, together with the Spiritual Assistant and the council of Franciscan Youth we should guarantee an adequate Secular Franciscan formation. • To foster communion among You. Fra members, the SFO council should adopt appropriate means for growth in Franciscan and ecclesial life and encourage everyone to a life of fraternity.

Conclusion Building the Young Franciscans/You. Fra through our dedication and perseverance to share time and presence in providing necessary means to carry out the needed services will result in our mutual enrichment. That is for You. Fra, the SFO and the Franciscan Family as we fulfill our common mission in the church and in our society. It is indeed a gift and a privilege to take such dynamic youthful spiritual responsibility.

Questions • When we build for You. Fra, how will it be relevant to them? • How will it be attractive and meaningful and feed their hunger? • How will we offer a vision for Franciscan life that will inspire and energize? • How will we show them our balance of contemplation and action that transforms ourselves and the world? • How will we live out our fraternity life that models Christian discipleship and love? • How will we engage and sustain, rather than just dazzle, attract and release? • Why will they want to join us?