WHAT WHAT IS A SPIRITUAL A SPIRITUAL ASSISTANT ?ASSISTANT ?

THE THE FRANCISCAN VISIONVISION

A focus on Jesus Mary’s self-giving Faithfulness to our duties Accepting all people

Becoming Builders Becoming Promoters Esteeming work Promoting family and married

life

Respecting God’s creation Being ready to serve Understanding our financial

support

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SPIRITUAL ASSISTANTS AND THE FRATERNITY

• In the 20th century, OFSs came to rely on friar spiritual assistants for everything.

• Fraternities become “devotional societies.”

What A Spiritual Assistant Is Not

• Not a “director”• Not the “leader”• Not in charge of all spiritual

teaching• Not the secretary or treasurer• Not an “ know it all” spiritual

assistant

• Pius XII, a tertiary, started the program of renewal of the Third Order as it was called then.

• Work that begun in the 1940s eventually resulted in our Rule of 1978.

• What is the Secular Franciscan Order?AutonomousOne OrderUnitedSecular

• Not an appendage to First Order/T.O.R

• Councils are to ask for a “suitable and well-prepared” person as a spiritual assistant

• Requires someone who knows the history of the OFS.

• Requires constant interaction with the fraternity council.• Keeps the “VISION” always in

mind.

•Peacemaker

•Mediator

•Model of Gospel life

• A member of the fraternity council

• Has a vote in all things but financial questions and elections

• Has input on all fraternity issues

• Is a part of the formation team

ASSISTING IN FORMATION

Helps the council and formation teamremember that formation must be:

Active Communal Ecclesial Seculal Joyful Open-ended Centered on Jesus Christ and His

Gospel In a spirit of simplicity & humility

INTERACTIVE EXPERIENTIAL EVANGELICAL

EXPECTATIONS OF A OFS COUNCIL

SUMMARY

Spiritual Assistant at any level should foster communion with the Church, bear witness to Franciscan spirituality, co-operate and collaborate in formation, and help nourish the Christian life of the community.

THE END