SFO International Council - Weekly edition
Volume: 6 - N. 6 - 2000 - February - II
From: Koinonia, 1999, N. 4
The Constitutions have sought a wider and better definition of the role of the Assistant: "The Spiritual Assistant is the person assigned by the proper Major Superior to fulfill this service to a specific Fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order" (art.89.2).
In this definition there is no requirement for priesthood, because this is not a sacramental assistance, but a spiritual assistance. It allows the First Order and T.O.R., which themselves are fraternities, to appoint a Brother, ordained or not, who is suitable and prepared, to assist a fraternity. On the other hand, experience tells us that there are many local fraternities lacking a "spiritual assistant" so this permits the Major Superiors to give this responsibility to Franciscan Religious, men or women, to diocesan priests or other non-Franciscan Religious, who are suitable and competent, who would be responsible to him for the care of the fraternity. (cfr. art.89.4).
The task of the Spiritual Assistant is "spiritual assistance to the fraternity at all its levels" (art.86.1): sharing "Franciscan spirituality" and cooperating in Formation (art.90.1); meanwhile, animation and guidance of the fraternity, at all levels, is the task of the Council, helped by the Spiritual Assistant.
Another sign of the maturity of spiritual assistance to the SFO is that because the Council with its Minister is the animator and guide of the Fraternity, the Spiritual Assistant is "a member by right" of the Council, but only "with a consultative vote" (art.90.2).
The responsibility of the Superiors of the First Order and the T.O.R. for "spiritual assistance" has been made very clear. Furthermore, the establishment of fraternities, giving spiritual animation, and Visitation of local Fraternities (cfr. art.88.2.a-c) form the "spiritual assistance given to the SFO" (art.88.2.d), and look after "the concern that the Religious themselves have towards the SFO and to provide suitable and trained persons for the ministry of spiritual assistance" (art.88.1). The assignment of suitable and well prepared Brothers and Sisters for this assistance should depend on the interest they have in the Secular Franciscans, on their own spirituality, their mission, and their assigned duties in society and the church. Today, many Franciscan Religious are attracted to other groups or church movements, forgetting that that Secular Franciscans share the same life and mission from their own secular ambiance, called as they are by the same "evangelical charism."
The feeling of Family which exists among the SFO and the First and Third Order Regular shows itself by sharing the way Spiritual Assistants are named: the SFO Council asks for an Assistant (cfr. art.91.1), the Minister Provincial listens to the Council, and they dialog to reach a favorable agreement for assistance to a specific Fraternity: "The competent Major Superior, having listened to the Council of the Fraternity involved, names the Assistant according to the norms of the Constitutions and the Statutes for Spiritual and Pastoral Assistance to the Secular Franciscan Order" (art. 91.3).
Special consideration needs to be given to the theme of "collegiality" in assistance to SFO fraternities at the regional, national, and international levels (cfr. art. 90.3.a-c). The creation of a "Conference of Spiritual Assistants" is required by the very unity of the SFO, in order to make assistance richer and more creative. It is very important that the Ministers Provincial of the First Order and T.O.R. help develop these "Conferences of Assistants."
There are no changes in the articles referring to the fraternal and pastoral visits. The existing texts in the General Constitutions of 1990 have been re-organized and put together under this specific theme with a few additions. Among these is the competence of the Council and of the Conference of Spiritual Assistants of a higher level, in line with the principle of subsidiarity, to make fraternal and pastoral Visits to the Councils of a lower level, for serious reasons or if the the Minister and Council fail to ask for a Visit (cfr. art. 92.3).
There were various proposals about Franciscan Youth, enriching the articles of the present Constitutions.
If the future of the church and of society is in the young, the same thing applies to the SFO, because if they identify themselves with the Franciscan secular charism and love it, they must communicate it. What is asked of SFO Fraternities is that they make new and dynamic efforts towards promoting the vocation of Franciscan youth. SFO Fraternities should generously and enthusiastically offer Franciscan Youth Fraternities a fraternal animator for secular Franciscan formation. The Fraternities are invited to strengthen fraternal relationships among SFO Fraternities and those of Franciscan Youth, through naming a representative, on the part of both groups, to serve as part of each other's Councils (cfr.art.97).
In communion with the Franciscan Family and with the Church
This article was not changed very much, but another number has been added to it which strongly inspires Franciscan ecumenism: "The Fraternities should promote, where possible, fraternal relationships with non-Catholic groups who find inspiration in St. Francis" (art. 103.2).
It was the ninth General Chapter celebrated by the Secular Franciscan Order, and the second one to be celebrated in Spain, in Madrid. The first one was celebrated in 1984. The Chapter was held in Pozuelo de Alarcón (Madrid), October 23-31. Forty-five Capitulars took part, plus five Observers and 8 people in the Secretarial Office, plus translators. The Brothers and Sisters represented about a half million Franciscan Seculars from around the world. Besides the Minister General, Emanuela de Nunzio, and the Vice Minister General Encarnación del Pozo and the four General Spiritual Assistants, there were 18 chapter delegates from Europe, 13 from America, 4 from Africa, 3 from Asia, 1 from Oceania and one from Lebanon. It is very interesting that the Order has developed, not only in Europe, America but also in Eastern Europe, where until a short while ago they had to live this form of evangelical life clandestinely. And the number of vocations and fraternities in Asia and Africa are growing. The principal challenges of the Order are formation, basic to maintaining its identity as "Franciscan and secular;" and also its active presence in the church and in society. They have some active projects: formation in the national fraternities of Africa and the Baltic countries, both to improve the quality of life in "fraternity" and in the "mission" of the Brothers and Sisters. Also they are encouraged to grow in "Communication" and in "ecumenism and inter-religious dialog." A new project has begun of animation and help to the national Fraternity of Cuba, which has 467 members, among whom are two bishops, several priests, and some permanent deacons.