OFS Organizational Structure

Franciscan Family Connections

Ch. 81

Opening Comments

• Principle of Subsidiary

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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)

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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

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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)

• http://franciscan-sfo.org/image2/Indeximg.jpg • http://www.ciofs.org/portal/

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Encarnacion del Pozo, OFSGeneral 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 65 - 68; NS 1 - 15)

•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

– http://www.kateriregion.org/news/news71nafra12.html 9

National – NAFRA(GC 65 - 68; NS 1 - 15)

•Election: 3 yrs.

•Duties– Has legislative, deliberative and

elective powers within US.– Prepares & distributes National

Statutes. – Deals with national issues.

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Regional – St. Francis Region(GC 61 - 64; NS 21 - 26)

•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)

• http://stfrancisregion.org/About-St-Francis-Region/2012-Regional-Chapter

• http://stfrancisregion.org/About-St-Francis-Region/2013-Chapter

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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

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Local Fraternity(GC 46 - 60; NS 16 - 20)

• 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.

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Local Fraternity(GC 46 - 60; NS 16 - 20)

• 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.

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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 …

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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.

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Spiritual AssistantsAnd 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.)

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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Geneology; Chronology; Structure of the Franciscan

Family• Events and dates in the development of

the Family.1182-1226St. Francis1193-1253St. Clare1209-1210Penitents of Assisi1210 First Order - Friars Minor1211 Second Order - Saint Clare (OSC)1290 Third Order – Secular approved1323 T.O.R. approved.1368-1517OFM Observant / OFM Conventuals1525-1528OFM Capuchins

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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. 19

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Opening Comments

•Vital Reciprocity throughout the Family– SFO Rule & GC

•Family Focus– Common Franciscan Vision– Collaboration between family

members

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The Franciscan Family

•Catholic•Non Catholic•Outreach Groups

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The Catholic Franciscan Family

• 1st Order – Friars Men Only

– Order Friars Minor Observant (OFM)

–http://www.ofm.org/ofm/?lang=en

– Order Friars Minor Conventual (OFM Conv)

–http://www.franciscanfriars.org/

– Order Friars Minor Capuchin (OFM Cap)

–http://olacapuchins.org/ 29

The Catholic Franciscan Family

•2nd Order - Poor Clares OSC, and all expressions

Women only; Usually Cloistered.–http://poorclare.org/–http://poorclaressantabarbara.org/

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The Catholic Franciscan Family

•3rd Order – 3rd Order Regular TOR, and all

expressionsGroups of men or women; living in community.–http://www.franciscanstor.org/ –http://www.franciscanfriarstor.com/aboutus.php

– http://feliciansistersna.org/ –http://www.franciscanbrothers.org/

– 3rd Order Secular OFSMixed individuals living in the world.–http://www.nafra-sfo.org

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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/

http://www.tssf.org

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Ecumenical Groups that follow Francis & Clare

•Order of Ecumenical Franciscans: (OEF)

• Craig Robert Miller, OEF, minister general of the Order of Ecumenical Franciscans

https://www.facebook.com/OrderofEcumenicalFranciscans

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Ecumenical Groups that follow Francis & Clare

•Atonement Franciscan Friars & Sisters (Graymoor)

» http://www.atonementfriars.org/

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Working Together:Outreach Groups

(Note their Visions and Missions)

• Franciscans International (FI)• http://www.franciscansinternational.org/

• Franciscan Action Network (FAN)• http://www.franciscanaction.org/

• Franciscan Federation (follow TOR rule)

• http://www.franfed.org/

• Poor Clare Federations/Associations• http://poorclare.org/• http://www.capuchinpoorclares.org/

• Programs sponsored by provinces. 35

More Outreach Groups

•OFS Ministries– Franciscan Family Apostolate

(families in India)– http://www.openhearts.org/

– Amazon Relief project (South America)

– http://www.amazonrelief.org/

– Franciscan Mission Services (Foreign & local missions)

– http://franciscanmissionservice.org/

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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.

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