C I O F S LIST

Rome, December 8, 2002
Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Circ.1/02-08

To all National Councils
International Councilors of the Secular Franciscan Order

Beloved: May God give you peace and joy.

The X General Chapter of the Order and the IV of Elections of the Secular Franciscan Order met in Rome from November 15 --23, 2002. From our shared responsibilities and daily experiences, we can say with the psalmist : How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head... like the dew ... falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore. (Psalm 133) During these days, truly united, we were able to enjoy the sweetness of one another, and to experience the blessings of the Lord, as refreshment for our lives, as an advance toward eternal life.

The General Chapter

Accomplished the legislation of the Order, in the international sphere, with the approval of the Statute of the International Fraternity. (Annex 1)

Deepened the theme of "Vital and Reciprocal Communion in the Franciscan Family," meeting in a roundtable with other members of our Family and proposing to intensify our mutual knowledge, fraternal relations, growth in "being and remaining united," respecting our own rhythms. The Chapter was aware that the "communion" in the Franciscan Family would lack foundation without a sense of mission. It's time we walk together, as a Family, arm in arm, with vision, faith, and prayer, because today we need to offer to the Church and to our society, unity and communion in goals and in action in order to accomplish a new way of being witnesses.

* Elected the new members of the Presidency of the CIOFS for the next six years (Annex 2)

* Made a pilgrimage to Assisi, with great emotion, to bring to Brother Francis our works and projects, hopes and uncertainties.

* Was received by His Holiness the Pope, in a unforgettable day of personal encounter with each Chapter member, receiving from His Holiness impulse and fortitude to keep going ahead: "look to the future, and row toward high seas, with sails unfurled, to serve the cause of the Kingdom of God in today's world." The Holy Father exhorted us "to make our Order a model of organic unity, both structural and charismatic in all its levels, so that we can show ourselves to the world as a community of love." (Annex 3)

* Elaborated its conclusions, establishing priorities for the next six years, as a proper program (of all International Councilors) and of the Presidency of CIOFS, to be revised in the intermediate General Chapter . These provisional conclusions are the ones that the International Council took with them. The definitive ones will be elaborated by the Presidency in order to give them an adequate format and send them off after completion.

* Established the dates between June 24, 2003 and June 24, 2004 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Rule's ratification. During this period, the Fraternity, from all levels, will be invited to deepen the theme of the General Chapter: "The vital reciprocal communion of the Franciscan Family" and to plan, furthermore, definitive studies and real life experiences, involving all the other members of the Family present in their respective countries.

We are sure that all of you are informed, in good time, of what has been going on in the Chapter, through your own International Councilors, and through the communications that have been offered through the web page of CIOFS, thanks to the collaboration of some brothers who have supported us as experts in this area of communication.

We must inform you also that some of the decisions of the Chapter require immediate communication from the Presidency, so that they may be applied by you, as in the following example:

Approval and implementation of the FIOFS Statute

With the Chapter's approval, as explained in the General Constitutions, article 6.1, the FIOFS Statute has been immediately implemented. And with it, the application of the article 5 that in its paragraphs:

1. Concerns the election of representatives from the national fraternities, which : "according to the proper national Statute, can be the Minister, or an International Councilor, properly elected, which will then become part of the national Council. Such election will be held by the respective national Chapter in agreement with the General Constitutions, the present Statute, and the proper national Statute."

4. Establishes that: "The mandate of the International Councilors and of their substitutes is three years. They can be reelected for consecutive periods according to the guidelines provided in the General Constitutions, art. 79.3"

This means, in part, that the national Statutes should comply with the FIOFS Statute, in order to follow the guideline that the International Councilor can be the Minister or an International Councilor formally elected and that this election (including the decision of its being the Minister or a councilor) should be in conformity with the national Chapter.

Furthermore, that the term of service of the International Councilors is already three years a circumstance foreseen in the Confirmation Decree which, concerning the decisions of the Chapter, already announced that: "Brother / sister __________, was formally elected member of the International Council of the SFO, for six years, meaning, until the convocation of the next General Elections Chapter, with the exception that the modifications of the Statute of the International Fraternity, or the proper national Statute, establish a shorter period for the position of International Councilor."

The newly elected CIOFS Presidency, in its first meeting during the General Chapter, considered opportune to communicate with the national Councils, as soon as possible, this guideline established in the new Statute, to highlight that, in this period of transition, the mandate of the current International Councilors will expire -- at the latest -- at the end of the third year since elected, or in the occasion of the first national Chapter of elections of their national Fraternity. This should be taken into note when planning your national Chapters of elections.

Brothers and sisters, when giving thanks to the Lord and to all of you for the trust given to us, the members of the new Presidency, we would like to put ourselves, with all humility, totally and fraternally, at your service with all that we are and with all our love for our Order. And knowing that we are all "responsible for the life of the SFO..., as an organic union of all the Fraternities throughout the world" (CC.GG. 30.1), we hope for your active "help and collaboration" (CC.GG. 31.3) to imbue them with "spirit and life ... in the light of the fundamental Franciscan options" (CC.GG. 31.4)

We would like to end this first communication asking the Lord for his special blessing for the brothers and sisters who, during the last six years, have served us without limitations in availability and love. We show them, this time with all of you, our gratitude, in a very special manner to our sister Emanuela De Nunzio, for her dedication as General Minister. We would like to share with all of you the prayer she made to the Lord during one of our Chapter liturgies:

For the Presidency of CIOFS,

Encarnación del Pozo, SFO
General Minister