Circolar Letter Of The Ciofs Presidency: N. 35

Promulgation Of The Practical Interpretation Of Art. 53.5 Of The SFO General Constitutions

Practical Interpretation Of Art. 53.5 Of The General Constitutions Application For Adhesion To A Fraternity

Introduction

Deliberation

Establishes That:

Financial Decisions Of The 2005 General Chapter

Circular Letter Of The Ciofs Presidency: N. 38

Circ. 35/02-08

PROMULGATION OF THE PRACTICAL INTERPRETATION OF ART. 53.5
OF THE SFO GENERAL CONSTITUTIONS

APPLICATION FOR ADHESION TO A FRATERNITY

Rome, January 1, 2006
Feast of Mary, Mother of God and
World Peace Day

To the SFO National Councils
To the SFO International Councilors

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

As you know, the final approval of the General Constitutions was issued with a CICLSAL (Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life) Decree on December 8, 2000, Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

Through time, it became evident that an article, specifically article 53.5, required to be given a practical interpretation by the General Chapter (cf. Art. 5.2, General Constitutions) so as to avoid arbitrary interpretations and to harmonize and clarify its application in the various areas and levels of the Order.

With this in mind, the Juridical Commission studied and prepared an interpretative text of article 53.5 of the General Constitutions. This was submitted to the CIOFS Presidency, which, after the necessary evaluation, presented it to the General Chapter of Assisi (November 5- 12 , 2005), which approved it, as per the enclosed text.

Now, by the present letter, we promulgate this interpretative text, on the day the Church celebrates the Feast of Mary, Mother of God and the World Peace Day; it will go into effect on March 19, 2006, Feast of St. Joseph, spouse of Mary and Patron of the Church and the family.

Before concluding, I would like to give you some practical advice:

1. Those Fraternities whose Statutes are presently under review and have received requests from people to adhere to their Fraternity, must include the criterion indicated by the Chapter in their Statutes and establish a procedure, as provided for in the interpretative document.
2. Those Fraternities whose Statutes have already been approved and have received requests from people to adhere to their Fraternity, must establish the modalities of adhesion to the Fraternity, as provided for in the interpretative document, by means of a National Chapter deliberation.

I would like to take this opportunity to invite you again to study the Conclusions of the General Chapter and to live the “Novitas Franciscana” on which we reflected during the General Chapter, accomplishing the Lord’s commandment to St. Francis: “Go and rebuild my house, which, as you see, is falling in ruins”.

Your sister and minister,

Encarnación del Pozo, SFO

“The national statutes can indicate special forms of association with the Fraternity for those who, without becoming a member of the SFO, want to participate in its life and activities.” (General Constitutions, art. 53.5).

Introduction

The Secular Franciscan Order

1. There are many spiritual families in the Church with different charisms. Among these families, the Franciscan Family, which in its various branches recognizes St. Francis of Assisi as its father, inspiration and model, must be included (cf. Rule 2).
2. From the beginning, the Secular Franciscan Order, also known as “Secular Franciscan Fraternity” or “Franciscan Third Order” has its own proper place in the Franciscan Family.
3. The Secular Franciscan Order (SFO) is a public association in the Church. It is articulated into Fraternities at various levels: local, regional, national and international. Each one has its own juridical personality within the Church. (cf. General Constitutions, art. 1.5).
4. Therefore, given that the local Fraternity - basic unit of the whole Order (Rule 22) - is an association, its members (perpetually professed brothers and sisters) are the associates.
5. Consequently, it is impossible, under the juridical and practical points of view, to accept brothers and sisters who do not belong to the SFO as “associates”.

Deliberation

In view of the above, at the suggestion of the Presidency Council, in conformity with article 5.2 of the General Constitutions, the General Chapter:

1. Recognizing the need to clarify and standardize the application of art. 53.5 of the General Constitutions and provide guidelines for the National Statutes;
2. Recognizing the need to welcome “all people with a gentle and courteous spirit as a gift of the Lord and an image of Christ” (Rule 13);
3. Considering that the Secular Franciscans should seek out “ways of unity and fraternal harmony through dialogue” (Rule 19), by welcoming “with pleasure those who, without belonging to the SFO, wish to share its experiences and activities” (art. 103, General Constitutions);

ESTABLISHES THAT:

1. All those who, without belonging to the SFO, wish to participate in its life and activities according to Franciscan principles and teachings, be welcomed into the local fraternity so as to make their communion living and effective.
2. The Statute of the National Fraternity must establish the percentage of adhesions for each local Fraternity, so as to avoid that the identity of the Fraternity be altered.
3. Adhesion will become effective after the person interested has made a request to the local Fraternity Council.
4. These brothers and sisters will have no juridical bond with the Secular Franciscan Order and are, therefore, persons welcomed to love and be loved “as a gift of the Lord and an image of Christ” (Rule 13);
5. They may share the experiences and activities of the Fraternity, without the right to vote.
6. On the basis of the conditions of each local Fraternity, it will be the duty of the Council, to organize all that is necessary for the insertion and formation of these brothers and sisters. As people sharing the responsibility of formation, all the members of the local fraternity will try to help them in their itinerary to follow Franciscan evangelical values, by welcoming them, by praying and setting a good example.

Assisi, November 11, 2005

1. It was decided to publish the International Bulletin only via the Internet. A paper copy of the Web page will be sent to those National Fraternities who have no access to the Internet.

2. It was decided that fraternal and pastoral Visits to national Fraternities and National elective Chapters be conducted together, unless national Fraternities specifically request that these visits and chapters be conducted separately. When Visits and Chapters are conducted together, additional time should to be provided to adequately conduct the Visits.

3. The General Chapter:

1. Delegates the Presidency to establish the criteria and methods of contributions, considering the economic situations of the national Fraternities involved.
2. Asks the Presidency to entrust the Economic Commission with the study and development of such criteria and methods of contributions.
3. Asks the Presidency to submit the contribution criteria and methods to all International Councillors for their consideration.
4. Asks that the International Councillors respond to the Presidency’s proposal within a period of two months.

4. It was decided that:

1. The following national/regional Fraternities contribute one euro per professed member per year: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Holland, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malta, Oceania, Philippines, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, United States of America.
   This level of contribution will be in effect until new contribution criteria and methods have been established.
2. All other national Fraternities, constituted and emerging, will determine an appropriate level of contribution in dialogue with the Presidency. This level of contribution will be in effect until new contribution criteria and methods have been established.

Assisi, November 11, 2005

Roma, 30th January, 2006.
Feast of Saint Giacinta Mariscotti, SFO
“Arise, Lord: you are my refuge”

Circ. 38/02-08

To the National Councils
To the International Councillors
To the CIOFS Bulletin subscribers

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

PEACE AND GOOD!

This is a follow-up to circular 36/08-02 dated 1st January 2006 regarding the General Chapter’s decision on the publication of the CIOFS Bulletin:

“ After careful consideration of the present situation of the Bulletin (500 copies are printed of both the Italian/English and Spanish/French editions, but only 249 subscriptions have been received, equal to a mere 25% of the copies printed and insufficient to cover printing and mailing expenses), the capitulars decided to discontinue the paper publication and to continue the publication of the Bulletin only via Internet. A photocopy of the Web page will be sent to those of you who do not have access to the Internet.”

We would now like to ask those brothers and sisters who have paid in advance a subscription for 2006 if they would like the amount paid to be reimbursed to them or if, in a spirit of charity, they consider it a donation to cover part of the debt related to the editions printed in the past.

Counting on your comprehension and collaboration, I thank you in advance.

Your brother in Christ and Francis,
Rosalvo Gonçalves Mota, OFS