Download - FORMATION COURSE FOR SFO SPIRITUAL ASSISTANTS

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FORMATION COURSE FOR SFO SPIRITUAL ASSISTANTS

Active Presence of the SFO

in the Church and in the World

Kerala, IndiaMay 7, 2010

Fr. Amando Trujillo Cano, TOR

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INTRODUCTION‘The joys and the hopes, the griefs and the anxieties of the men of this age, especially those who are poor or in any ay afflicted, these are the joys and hopes, the griefs and anxieties of the followers of Christ... That is why this community realizes that it is truly linked with mankind and its history by the deepest of bonds .’ (GS, 1)

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SHARING A STORY• Conference on Education• Stories of public schools• Trasforming the world is possible!• Some elements of this presentation• 3 parts of the presentation

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I. DOCUMENTS

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A. VATICAN II• “The laity… seek the kingdom

of God by engaging in temporal affairs and by ordering them according to the plan of God.

• They live in the world...in all of the secular professions and occupations...family and social life... they are called …by God that …they may work for the sanctification of the world ... they may make Christ known to others, especially by the testimony of a life resplendent in faith, hope and charity...” (LG 31)

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B. SFO’s GENERAL CONSTITUTIONS

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ACTIVE PRESENCE IN CHURCH AND THE WORLD (Art. 17)

Secular Franciscans are called to work together in building up the Church as the sacrament of salvation for all

«witnesses and instruments of the Church’s mission»

Preparation… for spreading the Gospel message in the ordinary circumstances of the world and for collaborating in the catechesis

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ACTIVE PRESENCE IN THE CHURCH AND THE WORLD (Art. 17)

The love of Francis for the word of God their own… his faith in those who announce it, and the great fervor …

Their preferred apostolate is personal witness in the environment in which they live and service for building up the Kingdom of God

In their own family… in the fraternity and… through their active presence in the local Church and in society

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ACTIVE PRESENCE IN CHURCH AND THE WORLD (Art. 18-23)

Called to make their own contribution, inspired by…Saint Francis of Assisi, towards a civilization in which the dignity of the human person, shared responsibility, and love may be living realities. They should:

deepen the true foundations of universal kinship

"be in the forefront... in the field of public life"

firmly oppose every form of exploitation, discrimination, exclusion and indifference

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witness to their fraternal love and clear Christian motivations

give preference to the poor and to those on the fringe of society

live their membership both in the Church and in society as an inseparable reality

generously fulfill the duties proper to their occupation and to the professional training that pertains to it

maintain a balance between work and rest… meaningful forms of using leisure time

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courageous initiatives in the field of human development and justice

take clear positions whenever human dignity is attacked and… offer their fraternal service to the victims of injustice

take care that their interventions are always inspired by Christian love

be bearers of peace in their families and in society

respect the choice of those who, because of conscientious objection, refuse to bear arms

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Work togehter:With movements which promote the

building of fraternity among peoplesPutting forward initiatives that care for

creation In overcoming the exclusions of others and

those forms of poverty that are the fruit of inefficiency and injustice

So that all persons may have the possibility to work and so that working conditions may always be more humane

For the passage of just laws and ordinances

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C. COMPENDIUM OF THE SOCIAL DOCTRINE OF THE CHURCH

Published by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace in 2004, presents the following principles in chapters III and IV of Part One:

I. THE DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSONII. THE PRINCIPLE OF THE COMMON GOODIII. THE UNIVERSAL DESTINATION OF GOODSIV. THE PRINCIPLE OF SUBSIDIARITYV. PARTICIPATIONVI. THE PRINCIPLE OF SOLIDARITYVII.THE FUNDAMENTAL VALUES OF SOCIAL

LIFEVIII.THE WAY OF LOVE

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Other central issues of human life in society:

CAP. V THE FAMILY, THE VITAL CELL OF SOCIETY

CAP. VI HUMAN WORKCAP VII ECONOMIC LIFECAP. VIII THE POLITICAL

COMMUNITYCAP IX THE INTERNATIONAL

COMMUNITYCAP. X SAFEGUARDING THE

ENVIRONMENTCAP. XI THE PROMOTION OF PEACE

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‘SOCIAL DOCTRINE AND ECCLESIAL ACTION’Social Doctrine and the Commitment of the Lay Faithful: a. The lay faithfulb. Spirituality of the lay faithfulc. Acting with prudenced. Social doctrine and lay associations

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e. Service in the various sectors of social life1. Service to the human person2. Service in culture3. Service in the economy4. Service in politics

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D. XII GENERAL CHAPTER’S CONCLUSIONS

Presence in the world as priority No. 4

For too long, the Order has not fully entered into its active mission in the world. The moment has come, and it can no longer be deferred, to “enter the city”, to exercise with determination and full visibility its own responsibilities to witness, and to promote justice, peace, human rights and the integrity of creation.

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It is essential that the entire Order be present as such, and not only through the worthy initiatives of its individual members… It is its duty to use this presence in every corner of the world to effectively operate everywhere, and to become visible by promoting strong and courageous initiatives, including those in national and international government organizations.

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Presence in the world as priority No. 4

For too long, the Order has not fully entered into its active mission in the world. The moment has come, and it can no longer be deferred, to “enter the city”, to exercise with determination and full visibility its own responsibilities to witness, and to promote justice, peace, human rights and the integrity of creation.

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E. MESSAGE OF POPE BENEDICT XVI FOR THE CELEBRATION OF THE WORLD DAY OF PEACE 2010

“If You Want to Cultivate Peace, Protect Creation”

1. “...Man’s inhumanity to man has given rise to numerous threats to peace and to authentic and integral human development […] Yet no less troubling are the threats arising from the neglect – if not downright misuse – of the earth and the natural goods that God has given us...” (1).

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4. “...Can we remain indifferent before the problems associated with such realities as climate change, desertification, the deterioration and loss of productivity in vast agricultural areas, the pollution of rivers and aquifers, the loss of biodiversity, the increase of natural catastrophes and the deforestation of equatorial and tropical regions? Can we disregard the growing phenomenon of “environmental refugees”[…]?

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5. “... Prudence would thus dictate a profound, long-term review of our model of development […] Humanity needs a profound cultural renewal; it needs to rediscover those values which can serve as the solid basis for building a brighter future for all [...] Specifically, they call for a lifestyle marked by sobriety and solidarity [...] Only in this way can the current crisis become an opportunity for discernment and new strategic planning”.

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II. TESTIMONIES

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B. GIUSEPPE MOSCATI (1880-1927)Italian doctor, scientific

researcher and university professor of profound faith and generous service to the needy

Two degreesDirector of several institutions Professional commitment and

recognitionDirect involvement in several

calamities and World War ICanonized on October 25,

1987

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GIORGIO LA PIRA (1904 – 1977)•Italian politician, mayor of

Florence (1950-1956, 1960-1964), deputy of the Christian Democratic Party, collaborated in writing the Italian Constitution •Dominican tertiary who

worked tirelessly for peace, human rights and the betterment of the disadvantaged•His political and

philosophical thought was clearly marked by his Catholic faith and the legacy of St. Francis of Assisi.

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GIORGIO LA PIRA (1904 – 1977)Founded the magazine Principles on the eve

of World War II and openly oppose fascism, for which he suffer persecution

He devoted himself to rebuild Florence during the post war years and he would often give away his shoes, clothing and most of his

incomeInvolvement in national and international

politics He fought for disarmament, third world

development, and religious toleranceThe process of his beatification started in 1986, John Paul II praised "the holy mayor”

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C. ARMIDA BARELLI (1882 – 1952)Tireless disciple of Christ with singular

intuition of the new demands of the times

Franciscan Tertiary of feminine geniusYoung women in the Italian Catholic

Movement Contributed to the birth of the Sacred Heart

Catholic University and the Missionaries of the Kingship of Christ

Prayer and a fervent Eucharistic pietySearch for holiness, missionary zeal, and

civil and social commitment To ferment the …culture, politics,

economy and recreation with the yeast of the Gospel

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D. HOUSE OF FRANCIS’ PEACESoup kitchen run by the “Pohang” local

fraternityInitial donation for rentServing lunch to the poor and elderly

every Saturday for over 10 years. Free medical examination and treatmentLunch boxes are home deliveredThe fraternity raises funds to cover the

expenses This witnessing to the gospel has united

and enlivened the fraternity

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E. ST. LUKE’S CLINICServes typically patients

among extremely poor immigrants or undocumented poor workers

Doctors and nurses from “Sylvester” local fraternity formed a volunteer medical group

Have provided health care services for a long time

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F. REMOVING THE OIL SLUDGE OFFSHORE

A collision of two huge ships in the West Sea (Korea) polluted the sea and beaches.

Secular Franciscans and other members of the Franciscan family of Korea worked hard to remove the oil sludge.

Secular Franciscans raised funds to cover the respective expenses: bus rental, lunch, etc.

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III. CONCLUSIONS

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C. GENERAL CRITERIA FOR PARTICIPATION

Sound Franciscan spirituality ... participation in the life and mission of the Church

Knowledge of reality… in order to be able to evangelize and to respond with “efficient” love to the particular needs around us

the gospel is a message of cross and resurrection and this cannot be compromised

Spirituality of communion...and collaboration with other pastoral leaders of the Church

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C. GENERAL CRITERIA FOR PARTICIPATION

Diverse levels of action: Emergency services and direct

assistanceHuman promotionAdvocacyTransforming the structures of sinSafeguarding creation

Collaborating with other institutions

Charitable Christian activity should be independent of political parties and ideology

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Jesus’s Mission is OursThe Spirit of the Lord is

upon me, because he has anointed

me to bring glad tidings to the

poor. He has sent me

to proclaim liberty to captives

and recovery of sight to the blind,

to let the oppressed go free,

and to proclaim a year acceptable to the

Lord.(Lc 4, 18-19)

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Dear St. ElizabethLady Saint,Come and teach us how to love,With the courage of your brave young

heart.Oh, dear Saint,Come and show us how to share,With our hands filled with thankfulness.Because you were able to understandWhat it takes to follow Christ the Lord,And to serve like Him who gave his life. Lady Saint,Faithful mother and spouse,You illuminate this world’s miseries.Oh, dear Saint,Noble woman of true faith,Of Saint Francis, daughter in the Lord. Like a star you brightly shine for all,You are adorned with fruits of selfless love,You are crowned with generosity.

Beloved saint, In the service of the lowly,An example, Elizabeth, you are.Beloved Saint,We are counting on your prayers,Intercessor, Elizabeth, you are. Lady Saint, Come and help us

recognizeIn the poor, the presence of Christ.In your trials, You lifted up your prayer,And through penance your heart found the way. Just like you, we wish to be a sign,Of the Kingdom of life and dignity,With the roses of solidarity. Beloved saint…(2)

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SERVE THE LORD WITH GLADNESS!