OFS Organizational Structure Franciscan Family Connections Ch. 8 1

Opening Comments Principle of Subsidiary 2

Opening Comments Servant Leaders Criteria: Integrity & Competent –Professed, follows Franciscan way of life, attentive to the Church, with vision and open to dialog. (GC 31.3) –Prepare and animate meetings, inspire life and soul into the fraternity by their own witness, carry out decisions and promote collaboration. (GC 31.4) –Cherish peace and reconciliation. (GC 32.1) 3

Opening Comments (Cont.) Servant Leaders Criteria (Cont.): Leadership is Temporary. (Rule-21; GC 32.2) –Regular elections held by higher level. –Term limits. Larger group (fraternity) is serviced by a smaller group (council) International – Presidency National – National Executive Council Regional – Regional Executive Council Local – Local Fraternity Council 4

Structure All referencing back to the Rule and General Constitutions Levels –International: CIOFS –National: NAFRA –Regional: St. Francis Region –Local: Your local fraternity 5

International – CIOFS (GC 69 – 75) Composition –Intl. Council: Intl. OFS Councilors, Presidency, Franciscan Youth Reps, General Spiritual Assistants (4). –Presidency: General Minister, Vice General Minister, Presidency Councilors, Franciscan Youth Rep & General SAs (4) 6

Encarnacion del Pozo, OFS General minister

International – CIOFS (GC 69 – 75) Election: Presidency: 6 yrs. Duties –Makes legislative decisions and gives norms in conformity with Rule & Constitutions. –Deals with international issues. Interpretation of Rule and Constitutions –CIOFS has practical interpretation. –Holy See has authentic interpretation. 8

National – NAFRA (GC ; NS ) Composition –National Fraternity : Regional Ministers, National Executive Council (NEC) and Conference of National Spiritual Assistants (CNSA) –NEC: Minister, Vice Minister, Secretary, Treasurer, at least one councilor (3 Councilors and International Councilor) and President of CNSA – nafra12.htmlhttp:// nafra12.html 9

National – NAFRA (GC ; NS ) Election: 3 yrs. Duties –Has legislative, deliberative and elective powers within US. –Prepares & distributes National Statutes. –Deals with national issues. 10

Regional – St. Francis Region (GC ; NS ) Composition –Regional Fraternity: Local ministers, Regional Executive Council (REC) and Regional Spiritual Assistants (RSAs) –REC: Minister, Vice Minister, Secretary, Treasurer, at least one councilor and President of Conference of Regional Spiritual Assistants (CRSA) (NS 23.2) Regional-Chapterhttp://stfrancisregion.org/About-St-Francis-Region/2012- Regional-Chapter Chapterhttp://stfrancisregion.org/About-St-Francis-Region/2013- Chapter 11

Regional – St. Francis Region (Cont.) Election: 3 yrs. Duties –Regional Fraternity (in chapter): Deliberative and elective power. –REC: Ordinary regional issues during the year. Other Note: –Guidelines (Norms): Statutes vs. Guidelines 12

Local Fraternity (GC ; NS ) Basic unit of the SFO. Canonically established by provincial with collaboration of the next higher OFS level. Composition –Council: Minister, Vice Minister, Secretary, Treasurer, Formation Director, Councilors and Spiritual Assistant. 13

Local Fraternity (GC ; NS ) Composition (Cont.) –Council Duties: Promote initiatives necessary for fostering fraternal life… formation … & make concrete and courageous choices … in the field of the apostolate. (GC 50.1) Election: 3 yrs. 14

Local Fraternities (Cont.) Members participate in the life of the fraternity. –Profession requires all members to participate in community life including: ideas, support, service and financial. –Provide support for those who cannot. –Active/Active Excused & Lapsed defined. (GC 53.3 & NS 18.7.a,.b & NS 18.10) –Candidates become members of the Order when admitted … 15

Local Fraternities (Cont.) Relationship to the church (parish and diocese). –We serve the Church! –Dialogue with and follow the directions of the local Ordinary regarding Ministry of the Word and liturgy and Various forms of apostolate. 16

Spiritual Assistants And the OFS

Spiritual Assistants (SAs) Serve –At various levels of the OFS –Collaborate with their councils –As part of the family, responsible to keep the Franciscan charism alive in the Church and in the world. Provincials appoint RSA & SA –(May be delegated.) 18

SAs OFS Structure and Franciscan Vision –Structure supports the vision. There must be a balance. –Daily Conversion SA’s personal experience of conversion leads to –Competence in assisting others. –SAs share insights about Franciscan spirituality. 19

SAs OFS Structure and Franciscan Vision (Cont.) –Vital Reciprocity: SAs both ‘assist’ OFS and ‘receive assistance’ from them which becomes our gift to one another. –Common Vision –SAs work with council and members to give life to the Franciscan vision. –SAs animate, excite, engage and proclaim the Franciscan spirit by word, action, prayer and example. 20

Regional Spiritual Assistants (RSAs) Visits fraternities: –Listens; evaluates what is observed and offers practical advice. –Must be able to understand, dialogue, keep peace, recognize problems and elevate the situation when necessary. –Collaborates. Can ask for help. RSA is a leader who empowers people to contribute what they have to offer to the common good. 21

Conference of National Spiritual Assistants (CNSA) Collaborates with the National Council. Conducts fraternal visits and witness elections for the Church. Foster the interest of the friars in the OFS and Franciscan youth 22

Conference of National Spiritual Assistants (CNSA) (Cont.) Duties: –Hold meetings; –Support RSAs, PSA and SAs; –Make recommendations to OFS; –Assist in development of training programs for RSA & SA Appointment: Friars only; 3 year terms; 12 years maximum; Rotate President in Turn every 2 years 23

Geneology; Chronology; Structure of the Franciscan Family Events and dates in the development of the Family St. Francis St. Clare Penitents of Assisi 1210First Order - Friars Minor 1211Second Order - Saint Clare (OSC) 1290Third Order – Secular approved 1323T.O.R. approved OFM Observant / OFM Conventuals OFM Capuchins 24

Questions 1. Why is it important to be aware of the organizational structure of the OFS? What is its value for a formator or SA? 2. Explain the principle of subsidiarity. Why is it important in dealing with issues in the OFS? 3. How well can you make OFS members aware of their international status? What difference does it make?

The Franciscan Family Franciscan Family Connections Ch

Opening Comments Vital Reciprocity throughout the Family –SFO Rule & GC Family Focus –Common Franciscan Vision –Collaboration between family members 27

The Franciscan Family Catholic Non Catholic Outreach Groups 28

The Catholic Franciscan Family 1 st Order – Friars Men Only –Order Friars Minor Observant (OFM) – –Order Friars Minor Conventual (OFM Conv) – –Order Friars Minor Capuchin (OFM Cap) – / / 29

The Catholic Franciscan Family 2 nd Order - Poor Clares OSC, and all expressions Women only; Usually Cloistered. – – 30

The Catholic Franciscan Family 3 rd Order –3 rd Order Regular TOR, and all expressions Groups of men or women; living in community. – – – – –3 rd Order Secular OFS Mixed individuals living in the world. – 31

Ecumenical Groups that follow Francis & Clare Anglican Franciscans: Third Order of Saint Francis (TSSF) Rev. Joan Verret, TSSF, representing the Anglican Third Order Society of St. Francis// 32

Ecumenical Groups that follow Francis & Clare Order of Ecumenical Franciscans: (OEF) Craig Robert Miller, OEF, minister general of the Order of Ecumenical Franciscans rderofEcumenicalFranciscans 33

Ecumenical Groups that follow Francis & Clare Atonement Franciscan Friars & Sisters (Graymoor) » 34

Working Together: Outreach Groups (Note their Visions and Missions) Franciscans International (FI) Franciscan Action Network (FAN) Franciscan Federation (follow TOR rule) Poor Clare Federations/Associations Programs sponsored by provinces. 35

More Outreach Groups OFS Ministries –Franciscan Family Apostolate (families in India) – –Amazon Relief project (South America) – –Franciscan Mission Services (Foreign & local missions) – 36

Our part: We need: –To be aware of and support each other. –To share a living spirit, enshrined in living individuals and communities, to proclaim our Franciscan spirit. –To give what is ours to give in the best way possible, the Franciscan way. 37

Our part: SAs and councils at every level are committed to nurturing Franciscans dedicated to and inspired by God. 38