NUTS & BOLTS

A Brief Review of Chapter 2 of theHandbook for Spiritual Assistants

to the OFS 2012Prepared May 2015

Incorporating members of other rites or language

1. Goal: Incorporating all Seculars/fraternities into the national/regional structure regardless of Catholic rite or language.

2. CNSA, NAFRA & NEC to guide regions.3. All fraternities in US must be part of NAFRA.4. All SA in US belongs to US fraternity.5. Visiting SA needs local permission. (Protocol)6. SA: Appointed by US Aukthority: Requires good

knowledge of US documents.7. SAL Assists; one member of the council.8. SA: Communicate in English.

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Ways of commitment to St. Francis / Affiliates

People with a desire to follow St. Francis and the Franciscan way of life. 1.Affiliates: without belonging to the OFS2.Written request needed. 3.Have no juridical bond with the OFS. Are Welcomed Guests. 4.No vote.5.40% limit nationally; 15% limit in SFR.6.Regional set Guidelines.Fraternities need to carefully consider and evaluate all affiliate requests.

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Responsibilities of a sponsoring fraternity

1. Sponsoring fraternity council (SFC) guides thenewly-forming fraternity (NFG)1. SFC member attends NFG gatherings.2. SFC votes to accept people at each stage of growth.

2. SA Requested by Sponsor1. Must bond to a province 2. The province provides the SA

3. Sponsoring formation team is responsible for initial formation.1. FUN manual.2. Franciscan Journey .3. SFC evaluates individual progress, votes on upward

movement and accepts professions. 4

Responsibilities of a sponsoring fraternity (Cont.)

4. SFC encourages NFG to participate .5. SFC asks REC to evaluate the new group’s

readiness for EC.6. Candidates for new appointments are

discussed for EC.7. Near 3 years, new EC council request canonical

establishment.8. 1 year after establishment, the new fraternity

requests an election.

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Process for establishing a new fraternity

Requirements: 5 Candidates. Higher number recommendedSFR requires 10 Professed at Establishment

Getting StartedREC receives request and accepts or assigns a sponsoring fraternity.

*Review of Documentation/Justification: References to what and why a fraternity.

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New Forming Group: Region gives approval of request

1. REC attaches a sponsoring fraternity1. NFG member sits on the SFC without vote.2. Provincial bond and SA is requested.

2. Sponsoring fraternity is responsible for formation (see prior topic)

*Formation periods, topics and exceptions are given.

3. Sponsoring fraternity and new group members bond.

*The steps of formation and responsibility are repeated including retreats and the REC.

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Emerging Community/Fraternity

1. REC evaluates NFG becoming EC after visits.1. REC reviews and appoints council members.

(See prior article)

2. EC council formally bonds with the province.3. Local bishop is notified.4. REC informs NEC and CNSA of EC.

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Emerging Community/Fraternity (Cont.)

5. EC functions like a fraternity - next 3 years.1. Makes their own decisions.2. Works with SFC for decisions as required.3. Participates4. Good list of duties listed.

6. Near 3 years, requests fraternal and pastoral visits.1. With approval, council request canonical

establishment.

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Canonical Establishment1. REC gets documents from CNSA

1. RM forwards documents to the Provincial

2. Provincial forwards documents to bishop.1. Bishop returns documents.

3. All prepare for the ceremony.1. Ritual.2. Documents signed duringceremony.3. Copies are distributed.

4. Elections after 1 year10

Guidelines for a "cell" group

Why?1.Based on the situation or needs of a group of members.2.Gives them a unique name to meet and carry on activities.3.They can establish their own norms.4.While remaining active members of the fraternity.

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Establishment of sections or cells

1. Should one or more groups desire to establish permanent sections within a local fraternity based on particular needs or common interests, they may do so subject to the direction of the local Fraternity Council so long as they continue to participate fully in the local fraternity's fraternal and apostolic life. The Regional fraternity will receive notice of the formation of such groups.

2. Such sections remain subject to the local fraternity as constituent parts of it

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Cell Recommendations/Notes1. Meet more often, or in different environment or

different apostolate.2. Exists for the good of its members and the whole

fraternity.3. Can have a leader.4. Should be connected to the fraternity and

provide benefit.1. Members should attend and participate in fraternity

meetings.5. Quickly resolve problems between cell and

fraternity.6. Cell could evolve into an independent fraternity.13

Options for a struggling fraternityDeactivation of Fraternity:1.Members transfer.2.A group transfers and gets together occasionally.3.A group transfers and gets together as a cell as well.4.Region’s obligation for non-transfers – Try to keep them involved.

1. Personally or through another local fraternity2. Maintain communication and concern.

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De-activating a fraternity

Property1.Deactivation (Cessation): Property, records and goods goes to higher level/2.Reactivation: (Revival) Property, records and goods come back from higher level.Process1.Declared by PSA with collaboration of REC & CRSA.

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De-activating a fraternity (Cont.)

Procedure:1.Visits by REC & CRSA, discussions, minister’s request.2.Documents and findings to the PSA.3.PSA evaluates.

1. If agrees, issues a decree of deactivation.2. If disagrees, dialogues with REC &CRSA.

4.Region gathers property, funds and documents.•Fraternity kept 100 years after last member dies.•Former members retain their identity and responsibilities as OFS. 16

Reactivating a Fraternity

1. Identity remains for 100 years after death of last member. It can be revived:

2. Five or More professed required to reactivate. (10 in SFR.)1. By 5 professed members of the fraternity2. By any 5 professed members willing to take on

the identity and responsibility?

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Reactivating Process1. Start like NFG.2. Reduced time possible.3. Old problems resolved.4. Request for reactivation:

1. Formal request to REC2. Appropriate visits3. Canonical establishment is verified.4. Recommendation is made to PSA5. Province sends notice of reactivation.

5. All goods returned.6. Ceremony of reactivation. 18

Reactivation Notes

1. Members of a fraternity starting a new fraternity need to request this of their own fraternity and the REC is notified.

2. Members, not of a fraternity, starting a new fraternity need to request this to the REC.

3. Better to have10 for a new fraternity rather than 5. In SFR, 10 are required.

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Guidelines for suspension – fraternity & individuals

Reasons: Fraternity & Individuals1. Repeated and prolonged default of the

members …2. Serious opposition or obstinacy to the Rule,

Const. & Statutes.3. Communal public rejection of the faith or

communal defection from ecclesiastical communion.

4. A communal act which is grave, external, inputable, officially documented and juridical proven.

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Suspension - Method

Method:1.Visits.2.Dialogs and warnings.3.Decide on suspension.4.Send request to PSA5.PSA issues decree.

What Happens?1.Provisions are made to transfer active members if a fraternity is suspended.2.See Deactivation of a Fraternity for details

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Suspension of Individuals1. Repeated and prolonged default … needs to be

addressed. Only in the case of obstinacy or relapse may the council decide, with a secret vote, to suspend individuals.

2. For serious causes, they need to be external, imputable, and juridically proven.

3. Time must be allowed for the individual to correct the problem.

4. In matters of rejection of the faith, the process should still be followed. Here we are probably talking about dismissal from the Order. This requires approval of the higher level and National.

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Transferring a fraternity to another Province

1. Local minister writes to both province to leave and province to join.

2. And asks the RM and RSAs to write letters of recommendation.

3. The leaving PSA gives his permission to the receiving PSA and the receiving PSA confirms.

4. Receiving PSA issues a letter of acceptance. And appoints SA

5. Need to inform the region of all changes.23