Prot. N. 1930/08

Lett. Circ. 71/02-08

 

Madrid, November 1, 2008

All Saints Solemnity

 

 

                                                            To the YouFra National Councils

To the SFO National Councils

 

Dear brothers and sisters:

                                                         May the Lord give you peace!

 

 

On behalf of the CIOFS Presidency, I am glad to send you the Conclusions of the First International Assembly of the Franciscan Youth, celebrated in Vilanova i la Geltrú, Barcelona, Spain, from June 28 to July 5, 2007, which I was happy to participate in.

 

We are also sending you the International Regulations of the Franciscan Youth, approved by the same Assembly and the CIOFS Presidency in its meeting of November, 2007.

 

We apologize for the delay in sending these documents even if both of them have been widely divulged after the celebration of the Assembly, with informative purposes, because of their value and the need to share them as soon as possible.

 

The time has come to ask the youth to make and develop your own decisions and hopes with the greatest enthusiasm and responsibility, to bear witness to Christian and Franciscan life before your adult brothers and sisters, showing how to live Saint Francis’ spirituality today through your youthful and courageous existence; to bear witness and to challenge so many young people that do not feel the need to live the values of the spirit, not even the human values; to turn the letter into spirit and life. So  “Let’s get to work!”

 

From our adult brothers and sisters of the national, regional, and local SFO Councils, the CIOFS Presidency expects and wishes generosity, trust, and openness, so that the youth can mold and develop the seed planted in their lives by the spirituality of Francis of Assisi and the SFO Rule, according to the needs and demands of their age.

 

This special day is dedicated to All Saints, our saints, who fulfilled the teachings and way of life proposed by Jesus in the beatitudes. I wish that both young people and adults learn together from the Master, who teaches us all to live as God’s children, through the example of his life and his word, so that we may mutually communicate the promises and gifts of the Father. Congratulations!

 

Your sister and minister,

Encarnación del Pozo