Report of the CIOFS Presidency to the 2005 General Chapter

Activities of the CIOFS Presidency

Activities of the CIOFS Presidency

6. Principal topics and decisions:

a) Formation project

If we insist on this topic, it is because formation has been one of the key points to which we have devoted a considerable part of our efforts in the last three years. We tried to make the most of every opportunity in the Order to stress the theme: in Chapters, pastoral and fraternal visittions, Congresees, etc. Now we come to the presentation of the action taken by the Presidency, as well as its future plans, with which we hope this Chapter will agree:

As was decided in 2002:

• All national faternities were asked to send information about their formation methods and to supply us with samples of the materials they use. Although not all the fraternities replied, we now have sufficient material in the Secretariat, to enable us to assist those fraternities that find it difficult to put together their own formation resources.
• Formation seminars were held in Rumania; in Poland –with the active collaboration of the national Council - for Ukraine; in Bielarus; in Cameroon;
• Whenever the opportunity arose, national Councils were reminded of the need to take very seriously the accompaniment of those brothers and sisters who, for just reasons, are unable to take part in the life of the fraternity, as will be seen in a moment.
• The CAS, with collaboration from a few seculars, is producing a manual for the training of spiritual Assistants, as the CAS itself will tell us in its Report to the Chapter.

Conscious of the importance of formation and all that it implies, the Presidency established a Formation Comission, whose members are : Benedetto Lino –Commisison chairman-; Tibor Kauser (Hungary); Marie Odile Blanty (France); Marie Amore (USA), and the General Assistants, Br. Irudaya Samy, OFMCap. and Fr. Martín P. Bitzer, OFMConv., with the mandate to present the initiatives that are currently under way, in particular, to determine the fundamental, indispensable areas in initial Formation, so that there would be the necessary basic uinity in formation in the SFO throughout the world. This would apply both to essential points and also to others that are less well known, though no less important, and to points for which less material is available. (Appendix 2).

b) Emergent Fraternities and their establishment:

During this period, following the necessary fraternal and pastoral Visits, in accordance with art. 65.2 of the General Constitutions, at its meeting of April 2005 the Presidency approved the establishment of the National Fraternities of:

• Indonesia and
• Sweden.

Criteria for establishing national fraternities.

In order to pass from an emergent to an established fraternity:

• a constituted national fraternity, or an international Councillor, must be designated to accompany the emergent Fraternity in its first phase (Art. 46.3 of the Constitutions);
• The fraternal and pastoral visits must be conducted.

The establishment of a Fraternity requires:

• The existence of (at least) five local fraternities, canonically established and situated in at least three different locations.
• No fewer than 200 members (except for very small countries or where Catholics represent a tiny minority).
• a provisional National Council, approved by the CiSFO Presidency, which is up and running and able to assume responsibility for the “animation and guidance” and “linking and co-ordination” of the Fraternities.
• the draft of a National Statute

At the present time there are 40 emergent Fraternities (Appendix 3).

Of these,

1. 8 have a provisional National Council approved by the Presidency, until the formation is consolidated and all the other stated requirements are in place. In all cases the establishment process is well advanced.
2. 9, which is a considerable number, have some local fraternities, but they are in great need of formation. They do not yet meet some important requirements established by the Presidency.
3. 3 Regional Fraternities have been established and are monitored by the Presidency.
4. 18 are just beginning to exist, or their presence is weak and they need more time and better accompaniment.
5. 1 entity in French- and German-speaking Switzerzland, which is difficult to place. The Italian-speaking fraternity is incorporated into the National Fraternity of Italy.
6. 1 local Fraterenity, canonically established and directly supervised by the Presidency (Papette, in Tahití)

c) Subsidies offered during this period:

• Subsidy for formation.
• Subsidy for the establishment of a local fraternity and for model drafts of the necessary documents. Both documents had been prepared by the previous Presidency but could not be sent because they had not been translated.
• Inactive (isolated) members who cannot participate in the life of their local Fraternity.
• Inactive members whodo not wish to participate in the life of the local Fraternity.
• Revision of the documents of Jufra.
• Model revised National Statutes, which so far have only been translated into Spanish and Italian.

d) Juridical Commission

1. The Commission was established at the first meeting of the newly-elected Presidency and its coordination entrusted to the Portuguese-language Councillor, Carlos Moura. When he found it difficult to supervise two Commissions at once, namely the economic and juridical, the Coordination of the Juridical Commission was taken over by the General Vice-Minister. The other members are: Emanuela De Nunzio and Fr. Valentín Redondo, OFMConv. The Commission:

• reviews National Statutes;
• draws up appeals;
• gives its opinion on juridical questions submitted to the Presidency;
• collaborates in the drafting of documents of a juridical nature;
• collaborates with the Minister General on the juridical aspects of various questions.

The Commission always meets before every meeting of the Presidency, and has in addition held two specially convoked meetings.

With regard to the revison of the Natrional Statutes, the Commission relies on a team composed of a number of seculars and the General Assistants, on the basis of the four official languages of the CIOFS. The Commission has provided its helpers with the necessary tools, in accordance with requirements laid down by the Presidency. These are the model National Statutes, the “process of revision”, and an “Index” of articles in the General Constitutions which are necessary, or at least appropriate, when Statutes are to be drafted.

During this period the Presidency has approved 6 National Statutes, adapted to the current Constitutions, and 19 are in process of revision.

National Fraternities that have not yet done so are recommended to update their Statutes.

With the active co-operation of Emanuela De Nunzio, we have managed to obtain:

• Certification by the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, of the establishment of our Order by Nicholas IV, on 18 August 1289, in the Bull “Supra Montem”.
• Civil juridical personality granted by the Italian State, by Decree dated 23rd August 2004. In consequence, it was possible to acquire accreditation according to Italian fiscal legislation, which enables us to oprerate in Italy, where our headquarters are located.