+

SPIRITUAL ASSISTANCE TO THE SFO NATURE OF ASSISTANCE NATURE OF ASSISTANCE COLLEGIAL ASSISTANCE COLLEGIAL ASSISTANCE IDENTITY OF ASSISTANT IDENTITY OF ASSISTANT

NATURE OF ASSISTANCE LIFE-GIVING UNION LIFE-GIVING UNION PURPOSE PURPOSE PROVINCIAL MINISTER PROVINCIAL MINISTER

LIFE-GIVING UNION One Franciscan charism, One Franciscan charism, different expressions different expressions One Franciscan Family: One Franciscan Family: laity, religious, priests laity, religious, priests

PURPOSE OF ASSISTANCE Guarantee: fidelity to charism fidelity to charism communion with the Church communion with the Church union with Franciscan Family union with Franciscan Family

PURPOSE OF ASSISTANCE Means: Pastoral visit Pastoral visit Appointment of Assistants Appointment of Assistants

PROVINCIAL MINISTER acts: p personally, or t through delegates

PROVINCIAL MINISTER duties: f fraternal relations ormation of the friars p provide means for Assistants m monitor assistance

COLLEGIAL ASSISTANCE C CONFERENCES M MEETINGS S STATUTES FOR ASSISTANCE

CONFERENCES International (General) International (General) Ministers General delegate Ministers General delegate General Assistants (4 in Rome) (4 in Rome) National National Ministers Provincial delegate Ministers Provincial delegate Provincial Assistants (3 in Oceania) (3 in Oceania)

CONFERENCES Regional Regional Ministers Provincial delegate Regional Assistants Ministers Provincial delegate Regional Assistants (1 in Singapore-Sabah) (No Conference) (No Conference)

MEETINGS General Assistants: General Assistants: once a month National Assistants: National Assistants: every second month Regional Assistants: Regional Assistants: haven’t formed Conferences Keep in contact, act collegially Keep in contact, act collegially

STATUTES FOR ASSISTANCE Title I: General Principles Title I: General Principles Title II: Role of Major Superiors Title II: Role of Major Superiors Title III: Role of Spiritual Assistants Title III: Role of Spiritual Assistants

ROLE OF SPIRITUAL ASSISTANTS Title III General Assistants National Assistants Regional Assistants Local Assistants

ROLE OF REGIONAL ASSISTANT regarding the SFO collaborate with Regional Council: collaborate with Regional Council: in spiritual and apostolic animation in spiritual and apostolic animation in formation of leaders in formation of leaders pastoral visit to local fraternities pastoral visit to local fraternities presence at local elective chapters presence at local elective chapters

ROLE OF REGIONAL ASSISTANT regarding the SFO coordinate regional coordinate regional spiritual assistance formation of Assistants formation of Assistants foster interest of friars foster interest of friars

ROLE OF REGIONAL ASSISTANT regarding his own Order keep his Minister Provincial informed keep his Minister Provincial informed deal with his Order’s service deal with his Order’s service

ROLE OF REGIONAL ASSISTANT regarding his own Order meet fraternities meet fraternities assisted by his Order maintain contact maintain contact with local Assistants

ROLE OF LOCAL ASSISTANT in the local Fraternity fosters communion: within the local fraternity within the local fraternity between the fraternity between the fraternity and his Order between the fraternity between the fraternity and his community

ROLE OF LOCAL ASSISTANT in the local Fraternity fosters active presence of local fraternity: in the Church in the Church in society in society

ROLE OF LOCAL ASSISTANT in the local fraternity Council with the Council: formation of candidates formation of candidates assessment before profession assessment before profession

ROLE OF LOCAL ASSISTANT in the local fraternity Council with the Minister: discusses those in difficulty discusses those in difficulty who want to retire who want to retire who act against the Rule who act against the Rule

IDENTITY OF THE LOCAL ASSISTANT HE OR SHE IS NOT HE OR SHE IS NOT HE OR SHE IS HE OR SHE IS QUALITIES QUALITIES RESPONSIBILITIES RESPONSIBILITIES

HE OR SHE IS NOT Actively: director odd jobs person spokesperson imposing self

HE OR SHE IS NOT Passively: sacramental only divorced from fraternity’s life

HE OR SHE IS voting member of Council: voting member of Council: except in: except in: elections elections financial questions financial questions cooperator in formation cooperator in formation

HE OR SHE IS fosters communion fosters communion with Church bond of communion bond of communion between friars and members

QUALITIES suitable suitable well prepared well prepared

SUITABLE Striving for the ideal centred on Jesus Christ centred on Jesus Christ Franciscan witness Franciscan witness with communication skills with communication skills

WELL PREPARED Open and understanding in: role of the laity role of the laity Franciscan spirituality Franciscan spirituality communication skills communication skills

RESPONSIBILITIES pastoral pastoral fraternal fraternal ecumenical ecumenical inter-religious inter-religious

PASTORAL Facilitate spiritual growth Develop Christocentric life Develop Christocentric life Assist in formation Assist in formation Official witness of Church Official witness of Church and Franciscan Family

FRATERNAL Foster common bond of unity by presence and activity by presence and activity promote interactivity between: promote interactivity between: levels of SFO fraternities levels of SFO fraternities Religious and Religious and Secular Franciscans

ECUMENICAL Foster rapport and collaboration with: other secular Orders other secular Orders laity in other ministries laity in other ministries other Christians other Christians

INTER-RELIGIOUS Foster rapport and collaboration with: non-Christians non-Christians Muslims especially Muslims especially