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THE SECULAR FRANCISCAN ORDER
The Secular Franciscan Order belongs to the Franciscan
Family and is "formed by the organic union of all the
Catholic fraternities, whose members, moved by the Holy
Spirit, commit themselves through profession to live the
Gospel after the manner of St. Francis in their secular state
following the Rule approved by the Church" ( Const.
1,3). "The rule and life of the Secular Franciscans is
this: to observe the gospel of our Lord Jesus christ by
following the example of Saint Francis of Assisi, who made
Christ the inspiration and the centre of his life with God and
people.... They should devote themselves especially to careful
reading of the gospel, going from gospel to life and life to
the gospel." ( Rule Article 4).
According to the latest Statistics (31-12-2002), the SFO has
about 400.000 professed members.
STRUCTURE OF THE SECULAR FRANCISCAN ORDER
The Secular Franciscan Order is divided into Fraternities
at various levels: local, regional, national and international. Each of these Fraternities is animated and guided by its Council and a Minister or President.
THE LOCAL FRATERNITY
The local Fraternity is "the basic unit of the whole
Order and is a visible sign of the Church, the community of
love. This should be the privileged place for developing a
sense of Church and the Franciscan vocation and for enlivening
the apostolic life of its members" (Rule
Article 22).
"The fraternity must offer to its members opportunities for coming together and collaborating through meetings to be held with as great a frequency as allowed by the situation and, with the involvement of all its members" (Constitutions 53,1)
"The council of the local fraternity is composed of the following offices: minister, vice-minister, secretary, treasurer, and master of formation. Other offices may be added according to the needs of each fraternity. The spiritual assistant of the fraternity forms part of the council by right (Constitutions 49,1-2)
THE REGIONAL FRATERNITY
The regional Fraternity "assures the link between the
local Fraternities and the national Fraternity" (Constitutions 61).
"The regional Fraternity is animated and guided by a
Minister, or President, and by a Council who are duly
elected" (Constitutions 61,3).
THE NATIONAL FRATERNITY
"The national Fraternity is the organic union of
local Fraternities existing within the territory of States or
of national entitities" (Constitutions
65,1).
"The national Fraternity... is animated and guided by
a Minister or President and by a Council who are duly
elected" (Constitutions 65,3).
THE INTERNATIONAL FRATERNITY
"The international Fraternity is constituted by the
organic union of alll the Catholic Secular Franciscan
Fraternities in the world. It is identical with the SFO (Constitutions 69,1).
"The international Fraternity is guided and animated
by the Minister or President with the International Council
(CIOFS), that has its seat in Rome (Italy)" (Constitutions 69,2).
"The International Council meets in the SFO General
Chapter with legislative, deliberative and elective
powers" (Constitutions 70,3).
CIOFS PRESIDENCY
"The Presidency of the International Council SFO is
constituted within the International Council of which it forms
an integral part" ( Constitutions 70,2).
"The duties and tasks of the Presidency are... to
coordinate, animate and guide the SFO at the international
level... to attend to the resolution of urgent problems"
(Constitutions 73).
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