SFO International Council - Weekly edition
Volume: 2 - N. 7 - 1996 - February - III
From: Koinonia, 1995, N. 4
in the formation of the secular leaders and members of the local Fraternity
Antonio Morichetti TOR, General Assistant SFO
Introduction
Several reflections have been published already on the role of the Assistants. In this number we consider the sensitive task and responsibility of the Assistant and the Animator as formators in the local Fraternity.
To speak of the spiritual Assistant as having responsibility for formation is not an easy matter, particularly in view of all he is involved in and the relationships he has to maintain, e.g., with the Minister, with the Council, with the staff of the formation team and with all the members of the Fraternity, both as a group and as individuals.
The draft of the formation plan on the Role of the Leaders of the Local Fraternity is at the stage when it is being studied by the Presidency of the SFO International Council which inter alia is collecting all the suggestions arriving from various parts of the Order. In the context of the different roles and aspects of fraternity life, this draft highlights the specific presence and role of the spiritual Assistant as someone responsible for formation compared with all the other roles.
We have to admit that in the past, the Secular Franciscan Order was not very attentive to the formation of leaders, leaving the task to the Assistant and the occasional experts. This situation is now undergoing a radical change and this is a development also required by the changing times into which we are moving. Above all it is demanded by the new dimension of responsibility to which the lay faithful are called within the Church and society.
However, this change must be made with intelligence and caution: let no one think that "-substituting-" the friar with the secular will solve everything. What we are talking about is a joint task patiently carried out, where each one pulls his own weight.
The renewed legislation of the Secular Franciscan Order places the spiritual Assistant in a new light, very different from that of the past, i.e., it places him in his true dimension. If the work of the Assistant seems reduced as regards direction and organization, it acquires greater depth in the area of spiritual accompaniment and in the formation of the brothers and sisters.
However, these changes must not harden the heart of the Assistant so that he adopts a passive "-laissez-faire-" approach, but rather they should lead him to an attitude of greater responsibility and commitment.
We are not dealing here with the requirements necessary to develop the role of formator, nor the preparations needed: this would be a topic to be treated separately. We confine ourselves to a consideration of the Assistant as a leader entrusted with the task of collaborating in the sensitive field of formation and consequently we will deal with his relationships with the other leaders. It must be borne in mind that his role acquires greater significance today if one remembers that Christian values are losing a lot of ground while other values which arenot always in tune with the following of Christ are gaining in strength.
"-Assistant-" comes from the Latin verb "-adsistere-", meaning: to stand next to, to be near, to be present, to participate, to help through one's own active participation, to protect, to favour. The Assistant is the one called because of his competence to assist the titular or the person who is the principal leader. In the ecclesiastical field, it indicates also the priest charged to represent the authority of the Church for Catholic associations.
Animator
The Constitutions also provide for the person of the Animator. "-Animator-" from "-animare-" means: to plant life, to give courage, to promote, to give expression, movement and warmth, to invigorate, to transfigure. The Animator is the one who inspires and promotes intellectual life; he is the spiritual guide of a movement.
Regarding the person of the Animator, a debate exists which goes back to the time when the present General Constitutions were being studied. The discussion especially concerns Art. 91.3 of the General Constitutions which deals with the Animator in a limited way and with a role which is not well defined. It would be necessary to deepen what the General Constitutions are trying to say in the phrase: "-to promote the life of the Fraternities-" (Const. 91,3).
Let's not get bogged down in this problem. Whatever is said about the Assistant, as long as it does not involve the priestly character, holds good also for the Animator.
Those in charge of formation
In the General Constitutions we find:
-- "-the spiritual Assistant is a member of the Council of the
Fraternity to which he gives assistance, and collaborates with it
in all its activities. It is the particular task of the Assistant
to cooperate in the initial and continuing formation of the
brothers and sisters-" ( Const. 89,4);
-- the Assistant is responsible for formation as spiritual guide
(cf. Const. 37,2);
-- before admitting someone to profession, the Council must listen
to the Formator and the Assistant (cf. Const. 41,1);
-- in the pastoral visits, the Assistant "-will give special
attention to programs, methods and experiences of formation-" (
Const. 95,4).
The Guidelines for Formation give greater prominence to the priestly role of the Assistant: "-As a teacher and guide, he reveals Christ who saves, and through his sacerdotal ministry, communicates to the candidates the grace of Christ, so that they can exercise their common priesthood, the gift of all the baptized-" (Chap. Three, II, D).
In the same document the Animator is seen as "-the professional to whom those responsible can have recourse in certain circumstances so as to make the participation of those under formation more involved, urging on their commitment; and creating a climate which is easy-going and trusting, so as to render the meetings more effective-" ( ibid., Appendix 3).
On the role of the Assistant as educator we have two authoritative comments by Pope John Paul II: "-For those who have specific responsibilities in the Secular Franciscan Order, I hope for unity of purpose and identity of determination, so that they can be enlightened animators and guides, by leading the way for the brothers and sisters in the love of the Gospel and fidelity to the Church... I thank the Father Assistants who are your teachers and guides-" ( Discourse of 27 September 1982 to the CIOFS, the members of the International Congress and the SFO pilgrims ).
"-The mission of the ecclesiastical Assistant is primarily priestly and hence directed toward educating in the faith and promoting growth in the interior life... in such a way that the laity respond joyfully and generouslyto the call to holiness and to their specific mission according to the Gospel... The mission of the Assistant then achieves its goal in the promotion among the members of the Fraternity of their particular lay vocation in all its implications and specific nature... Your action, your specific apostolate, your mission as spiritual fathers and educators in the faith for individual people, are fundamental elements for the formation of all members, including leaders and animators-" (Discourse of 23 June 1987, passim, addressed to the Italian Catholic Action ).
In the formation of the Fraternity
The Assistant is by right a member of the Council; his role consists in being the privileged formator of the entire Fraternity. He must be entirely aware of this fact if he is to convey widely his understanding of "-things Franciscan-", with the presence and the competence required of him.
He also participates (even if this is not always necessary) in the meetings of the Fraternity, being actively present and alert to the dynamics of the group.
He lives, expresses and facilitates that vital reciprocity of communion which arises from belonging to the same Franciscan Family, even if in different ways (cf. Statutes for the spiritual and pastoral assistance to the Secular Franciscan Order, Rome 1992, n. 1).
As regards the role of each, he concerns himself with pastoral and spiritual formation as well as with the liturgical and sacramental life of the Fraternity. He is the guarantor of the biblical-theological content of formation: he speaks of God and is sensitive to such spiritual aspects as prayer, listening to the Word and spiritual direction.
As witness to fraternal life, he becomes the bond of unity within the Fraternity, with the community of the friars, with the other Franciscan religious communities to be found in the area and with the ecclesial community. He is on the look-out that the Fraternity does not close in on itself and become a "-parish group-"; he enlivens the Fraternity's interest in the life of the local Church, through collaboration in diocesan and parochial initiatives. In being the spiritual and "-prophetic-" counsellor of the government of the Fraternity, it falls to him to encourage all towards "-unity in charity-" and the sensus ecclesiae.
The Assistant is not to be the "-director-" or the "-factotum-"; but he is not simply a chaplain or a priest, according to the terminology used by some Church groups, who limit his presence to celebrating the Eucharist and administering the sacraments. Like all the members of the Council, he has the duty to "-serve-" as best he can, as the Rule requires.
He is pastor, guide and teacher; he must get to know the members of the Fraternity, one by one, and form them by harmonizing the education and abilities of each so that no one remains isolated or on the periphery. We are talking about a profound work that is carried out discreetly and quietly, yet very effectively for the growth of the Fraternity in all its members. The Assistant often has to make people feel that they belong to a fraternity and that above all their own talents are given rein. At times we underrate the members of the SFO. Many of our brothers and sisters have special gifts and capacities which often they do not see and realize; at times it is enough to encourage them and give them the chance.
(to be continued)
Conference of General Assistants
21 July 1995: Kevin Schindler-McGraw OFM Conv. attended his last meeting of the Conference when all four Assistants met at the International Secretariat, Garbatella. The Conference was unable to function on 9 June, when only two members were present. The work that remains to be done was prioritized; dates were set for inviting experts to address the Conference; the delegation of Assistants to nationalChapters and for pastoral visits was revised. Work proceeded on the Manual for SFO Leaders. We noted the recent election of two Ministers General: Agostino Gardin OFMConv and Bonaventure Midili TOR. We planned a farewell dinner for Fr Kevin on 26 August.
EUFRA-Weeks 1995: Hopsten, Germany
7-20 August 1995: A hundred Secular Franciscans, including many young people, from 18 countries of Europe, attended part or all of the two-weeks' meeting of EUFRA (Europa Franciscana). Eleven eastern European countries were represented at Bernard-Otte-Haus, a diocesan school of adult formation. Margret Mertens and Walburga Hack, from Krefeld, conducted the meeting with the help of a dedicated team. Four formal discussions were held in language groups on the theme: "-With Francis Towards a New Europe-". The programme included also chorale, well-prepared liturgy, optional workshops, and visits to nearby places of interest. Fr Carl attended the second week.