C I O F S LIST

Letter of confirmation

STATUTES OF THE INTERNATIONAL FRATERNITY OF THE SECULAR FRANCISCAN ORDER

Introduction

The international fraternity

The international council

Ministro gen. OFM -- Tel. 632.241
Ministro gen. OFMCap. -- Tel. 4740.643
Ministro gen. OFMConv. -- Tel. 6794.178
Ministro gen. TOR -- Tel. 6792.800

Rome, December 30, 1994

Dear Sister Emanuela DE NUNZIO
General Minister SFO
31, Via Pomponia Grecina
00145 ROME

Dear Sister,
Peace and all good in the Lord!

The Conference of General Ministers of the four Franciscan Families, during its meeting of December 28, 1994, have discussed the Statutes of the International Fraternity SFO and introduced the following changes:

1) Art. 5 The International Presidency, after consultation with the National Councils of the SFO in nations where the Franciscan Youth exists, will determine the number and the method of election of the International Councillors representing the Franciscan Youth.

2) Art. 23 The International Councillors may be re-elected for a second six-year period. They can be re-elected for further successive six-year periods if they gain at least two-thirds of the votes of those present.

With these changes, the General Ministers confirm the Statutes of the International Fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order.

The Statutes enter in force from January 1, 1995.
With fraternal and cordial greetings,

The Secular Franciscan Order "- is divided into fraternities of various levels - local, regional, national and international -" (Rule 20), co-ordinated among themselves in conformity with the indications of the Rule and of the General Constitutions.

Each of the Fraternities has its own juridical personality within the Church as a public association (see Const. 1.5).

Therefore, the Secular Franciscan Order establishes and adopts the present Statutes to promote the life of the International Fraternity, and specifically, to provide for its organisation and its functioning.

Article 1

1. The International Fraternity:
2. is formed by the organic union of all the Catholic Secular Franciscan Fraternities in the world. It corresponds to the SFO in its entirety. It has its own juridical personality within the Church (see Rule 2; Const. 69.1);
3. is guided and animated by the Minister General (or International President), with the International Council of the Secular Franciscan Order (CIOFS), who conjointly see to the observance and fulfilment of the Rule, the General Constitutions and the Ritual (see Const. 69.2; 92.2);
4. is organised and functions in conformity with the Rule, the General Constitutions, the Ritual and the present Statutes (see Const. 69.1);
5. has its seat in Rome, Italy, and its official title is ORDO FRANCISCANUS SAECULARIS.
6. its official languages for communication and correspondence are: English, French, Italian and Spanish.

Article 2

Article 3

Article 4 International Councillors

1. The number of the secular International Councillors is established according to the following criteria:
2. Every National Fraternity, formally constituted by the Presidency of the International Council of the SFO according to the norms of the General Constitutions (see Const. 65,1-2), has the right to one representative in the International Council.
3. Representation in the International Council of the SFO can be assured for the emerging National Fraternities, with the approval of the Presidency:
   
   1. through the International Councillor of a nearby National Fraternity;
   2. or through the constitution of a group of National Fraternities that present similar situations and characteristics. The group will have the right to one International Councillor. To assure an equitable representation in the International Council or the SFO, the National Fraternities concerned will also propose to the Presidency of the International Council of the SFO the method of rotation or of alternation among themselves.

Article 5 Franciscan Youth Councillors

Article 6

1. The aims and duties of the International Council of the SFO are (see Const. 71):
2. to promote and sustain the evangelical life according to the spirit of St Francis of Assisi within the secular condition of the faithful living throughout the world;
3. to strengthen, in the spirit of fraternal help, the bond of communion, of collaboration and interrelation, and of sharing among the National Fraternities and among National Fraternities that present shared situations, needs and problems and which assemble in different ways (e.g., "- conferences -" of leaders, meetings, congresses); to make the interdependence and reciprocity of the SFO a reality among the various levels of Fraternity; to increase the sense of unity, with respect to the pluralism of persons and groups, as well as the awareness of a particular responsibility with respect to the entire order (see Const. 30.1).
4. to harmonize sound traditions, according to the original nature of the SFO, with advances in the theological, pastoral and legislative fields, with a view to a specific evangelical Franciscan formation;
5. to contribute, in line with the tradition of the SFO, to the spreading of ideas and initiatives which are valuable for promoting the active presence of Secular Franciscans in the life of the Church and of society;
6. to participate in providing fraternal aid in the clarification and resolution of grave and urgent problems of the SFO, in a spirit of service, by means of its own Presidency, according to the circumstances and its own prudent evaluation.
7. to strengthen reciprocal relationships of collaboration at the world level among the SFO and the other branches of Franciscan Family and also with the ecclesial Organisations and Associations and with the civil institutions which defend the same values.

Article 7

1. The competencies of the International Councillors of the SFO are:
2. to participate in the General Chapter;
3. to speak in the General Chapter in the name of the National Fraternity that they represent, and to present what has been entrusted to them by decision of the Council of the respective National Fraternity;
4. to inform the same National Fraternity of the decisions made and the initiatives undertaken by the General Chapter;
5. to maintain frequent and regular contacts of communication and dialogue with the Presidency of the International Council of the SFO, with the Minister General and with the Secretariat;
6. to present to the General Chapter, in the manner established by the Presidency, the report prepared and approved by the respective National Council, including the updated statistical data.
7. the duties described correspond, with the proper adaptations, to the International Councillors representing the Franciscan Youth.