Circular Letter of The Ciofs Presidency: N. 34

Practical Interpretation of Art. 53.5 of the General Constitutions

Madrid, December 8, 2005
Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Circ. 34/02-08

To the International Councilors and
The National Councils of the
Secular Franciscan Order

Dearest brothers and sisters,

The Lord give you peace!

From November 5th to the 12th, 2005, the International Council of the Secular Franciscan Order met in Assisi, Italy, for the "XI General Chapter". The Chapter began with a a celebration of the Eucharist at the Sacro Convento, where all participants had the opportunity to pray before the tomb of Saint Francis.

The Chapter was celebrated within the context of the 800th anniversary of the revelation from the crucifix of San Damiano to Francis, marking the beginning of his vocation and of the mission of the whole Franciscan family, and of the 40th anniversary of the conclusion of the Second Vatican Council, which marks the life and history of the Church in our times with the important recognition and insertion of the laity in its life and mission. Motivated by these anniversaries, the Presidency proposed to reflect on the call to mission and the testimony of the Secular Franciscans, beginning with the "novitas" which Francis brought to the Church and to the society of his time.

The Chapter:

• Reflected on the theme of the "novitas franciscana": mission and testimony, a theme undertaken by the international councilors, with the whole SFO, throughout the past year in preparation for the Chapter.
• Experienced a presentation of the theme prepared by Carol Gentile (National Minister, USA) and by Fr. Lester Bach, OFMCap. (National Spiritual Assistant, USA) and elaborated on it.
• Listened intently to the powerful testimonies presented by the members of the round table during the session entitled: "How to live our mission and offer our witness in the diverse continents and in the diverse cultures." These testimonies enabled the capitulars to become aware of the diverse initiatives existing within the SFO in living its mission to safeguard the environment, to attend to the educational needs of the rural and indigenous people, to care for the most needy and to promote inter-religious dialogue.
• Approved the report of the Presidency of the CIOFS in which, in accordance with the CIOFS Statutes, art. 17.2d, the situation of the International Fraternity was presented and an account of its performance during the past three years was elaborated.
• Approved the triennial economic report and statement of accounts, noting the delicate situation in which the International Fraternity finds itself due to the lack of the necessary funds to render the required services, and the lack of contributions from a considerable number of National Fraternities, established and emergent.
• Approved a series of measures to rectify its economic situation. (Attachment 1)
• Approved a motion concerning the situation of the SFO in Italy, addressed to the Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life and the Conference of Ministers General of the First Order and TOR, and adopted the response of the Presidency to the aforementioned Congregation to proceed on this question. (Attachment 3)
• Attended the Holy Father's general audience in which Pope Benedict XVI greeted the Chapter participants exhorting them to live their Franciscan-Gospel vocation, and extended some personal greetings to representatives of the General Chapter.
• Received information on some of the early projects that are unfolding to mark the centenary celebration of the birth of St. Elizabeth of Hungary, our patroness.
• Approved a draft of its conclusions, establishing some priorities for the next three years that would complement the conclusions of the 2002 General Chapter established for six years. These provisional conclusions, already provided to the International Councilors, have been edited by the Presidency, in accordance with the direction of the Chapter, and prepared more definitively. (Attachment 4)

Practical interpretation of Art. 53.5 of the General Constitutions

The Chapter, as proposed by the Presidency and in accordance with art. 5.2 of the General Constitutions, has given a practical interpretation of art. 53.5 of the General Constitutions in order to clarify its content, to harmonize its application throughout the Order and to prevent arbitrary interpretations that could cause difficulties among local fraternities. (Attachment 2) Given that this subject requires special treatment, it will be promulgated in a separate communication, signaling its effective date and its application.

We hope that a large part of SFO brothers and sisters were able to follow the day-by-day business of the Chapter through the CIOFS web page (www.ciofs.org), thanks to the efforts of Fr. Ben Brevoort, OFMCap., who so generously offered us this service. For those who were unable to do so, being unaware of this possibility, we are pleased to inform you that the information on the Chapter is still available on the web page.

The Chapter concluded its work by celebrating the Eucharist, presided by the OFM Minister General, Fr. José Rodríguez Carballo, at Our Lady of the Angels Basilica. There, at the door of the Portiuncula, capitulars renewed their commitment to the Secular Franciscan Order, and received the mandate to "Go and repair" conveyed by the presenting of a San Damiano crucifix to each of the capitulars from the hands of Fr. Jose Rodríguez Carballo. With this Eucharist and the Chapter session that followed, Fr. José began the Pastoral Visitation to the CIOFS Presidency by the Conference of Ministers General of the First Order and TOR in the name of the Church. (Homily, Attachment 5)

Brothers and sisters, we can only give thanks to God, Giver of all Good, for this important event in the life of our Order which has allowed us to exercise our responsibility to animate and guide, with a fraternal spirit, intensive work sessions in a prayerful and joyful environment. It has been an experience of mutual service and attentive reflection over the selected topics for deliberation at the Chapter. Now, it is important that the National Councils transmit all the resolutions of the Chapter, and become a real, living bond of communication within the whole Order that cannot, for reasons of justice and coherence, be interrupted. May the Lord, through the intercession of Saint Francis and Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, help us accomplish it.

The Chapter has done its part. Now it is our turn, united, to make our commitment to our life and our mission a reality. Advent is a privileged time. Let us take the road to respond to the call of the Lord, like Abraham; paving the way as John the Baptist invites us to. John's voice is free, sincere, demanding, a herald and a testimony. It is worth listening to. This is a great adventure for the believer: to recognize and follow the roads of the Lord that lead us, by means of conversion, to the promised land, to freedom.

In the fullness of this Advent journey, which announces the Nativity of the Lord, I take this opportunity to send greetings, with the CIOFS Presidency, to all the brothers and sisters of the International Fraternity of the SFO wishing that each live with intensity and joy the real essence of God's Love, incarnate in the YES of Mary Immaculate, Jesus himself.

Your sister and minister,

Encarnación del Pozo
Minister General SFO