SFO International Council - Weekly edition
Volume: 8 - N. 12 - 2002 - March - IV
From: Koinonia, 2001, N. 4
The spiritual Assistant cooperates in a special way in the initial and ongoing formation of the brothers [1 . A general Assistant, Antonio Morichetti TOR has written: The Assistant "must collaborate in the formation of all, especially in initial and ongoing formation. He will find the way of exercising his role of formator in meetings of the Council, in assemblies, in spiritual direction, in celebrations and when he animates prayer (...) in order to help new members prepare themselves for the definitive «intention»; and to accompany the professed in persevering and going deeper into it".
He will do this "in living Franciscan example and testimony; collaborating as a member of the formation group, without imposing his own ideas; and forming the group itself, helping it especially in dealing with a discipline that often is not familiar to seculars; evaluating the path trodden and that to be walked together; offering support by his word and training" [2 .
In initial formation especially the Assistant must enter into personal dialogue with the candidates, help them to clarify their vocation, to purify and make it precise. He accompanies the candidates along the path of living according to the Gospel in order to introduce them progressively and methodically towards immersion into the truth of faith and knowledge of Franciscan spirituality.
The assistant cooperates with the Council in the ongoing formation of the brothers. He will contribute his culture and experience, helping and accompanying the brothers in the constant conversion required by the Gospel. He collaborates in order to form all for the fulfilment of their mission in the Church and society through their testimony and evangelisation. He educates the fraternity in knowing how to discern the signs of the times.
"The spiritual assistant is by right, with vote, a member of the council of the fraternity to which he or she gives assistance and collaborates with it in all activities. The spiritual assistant does not exercise the right to vote in financial questions " [3 .
The participation of the spiritual Assistant in the meetings and works of the Council is articulated in different ways according to the requirements and concrete situations of the Fraternity. His role in the Council meetings will be more articulate in a Fraternity that is being formed or revived, and less so in a Fraternity formed and operating fully. But in every case the Assistant will give to the seculars "priority with regard to guidance, coordination and animation of the fraternity" [4 . His main role is always that spiritual one of nourishing the Christian and Franciscan life of the Fraternity [5 and of helping the Council to discern what the Holy Spirit is saying to the Fraternity.
The meetings of the Council will be about the different elements of Fraternity life: the Franciscan and Christian life, apostolic and charitable activity, initial and ongoing formation, fraternal life and the relationships among the members. The subjects to be dealt with will be various: the preparation of Fraternity meetings, the planning and evaluation of the activity of the Fraternity, evaluation of the candidates in view of their admission to the Order or to profession, the preparation of the Chapter or of special meetings of the Fraternity, formation sessions for those responsible, present and future, and for the members of the Fraternity. The role of the spiritual Assistant in the meetings of the Council is normally limited to an active participation in the debate, proposing suggestions that come from his religious and Franciscan sensitivity.
It is important that the meetings of the Council be prepared and have a clear agenda. The Assistant should also prepare himself in order to help the secular Councillors with his spiritual vision of the subject to be dealt with. Previous contact between the Minister of the Fraternity and the Assistant will serve to put him in the picture and help him to carry out his role better during the meeting of the Council.
In all his activity the spiritual Assistant should develop in himself and in the Fraternity an attitude of listening, of attention to the signs of the times, of discerning what the Holy Spirit is saying to the individual brother and to the Fraternity.
The national Council of the SFO in France has defined the role of the Assistant, the companion, the brother who "walks with them along the path of the Lord":
"He is before all and above all at the service of the spiritual growth of the group, attentive to the discernment of its spiritual journey. With his listening to and re-reading of that lived, the companion permits the group to accept the presence of God and the calls of the Spirit better.
He is there to encourage interiorisation, to help each one to enter into a deeper relationship with God. He should bear within himself a solicitude for the spiritual development of each of the members.
He is a witness to the mercy of God and can help the group and individuals to be cured of their wounds" [6 .
The Assistant, therefore, together with the Minister, plays an important role, not only in formation, but also in the accompaniment of the brother in trouble [7 . He will help the brother in discerning his spiritual path and in the difficult process of being cured of spiritual and psychological wounds.
Finally, here are the qualities required of the ideal Assistant, as given by the national Council of France [8 :
The ideal Assistant should:
-- have a great quality of spiritual life, a strong interior life
animated by regular prayer;
-- have a sense of mystery, know how to recognise that all comes
from God;
-- have a certain interior coherence (clarity with himself);
-- have humility, sense of service;
-- know his limitations and accept them;
-- have a positive outlook on people and a deep respect for the
experience of others;
-- know how to listen and wait;
-- have a good dose of good sense;
-- be concretly committed in life;
-- allow himself to be formed by the fraternity;
-- have a good knowledge of St. Francis."
On the 19th and 20th Deccember, the four general Assistants met in Rome to plan the meetings of the Conference during 2002 and to gather together the material for the elaboration of a manual for spiritual Assistants. The material gathered has still to be touched up to make it more homogenous.
Kenya. From the 13th to 16th Deccember the national elective Chapter of Kenya was held in Nairobi in the presence of Br. Ben. Due to the impossibility of being present personally, Emanuela De Nunzio delegated Cecily Muthoni Gichuki to preside over the elections. The first part of the Chapter was dedicated to a reflection on Franciscan spirituality and to a lecture on mission in the world today. The afternoon of the 15th of December the elections for the national Council, composed of 10 members, were held. Joseph Njau Kahiga was re-elected national Minister.
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