COMMITMENT AND PERIOD OF FORMATION IN THE SECULAR
FRANCISCAN ORDER
Since we are welcoming 5 potential candidates this
month, think about your commitment to the Secular Franciscan Order:
·
What is a vocation/ a Secular Franciscan Vocation?
·
How do we determine the validity of our vocation?
·
What do we mean by formation?
·
What is the time frame in the National Statutes for ORIENTATION?
(See below.)
·
What are the objectives of Orientation? (Discernment)
·
What is the time frame in the National Statutes for INQUIRY?
(6 months—see below)
·
What ceremony begins the time of inquiry? (See below—this
is what we will celebrate this month.)
·
What are the objectives of Inquiry? (Expectations)
·
What is the time frame in the National Statutes for
candidacy? (18 months min./ 36 max.) Constitutions say at least a year.
·
What ceremony begins the time of candidacy? (Rite of
Admission)
·
What are the objectives of candidacy? (Active role in the
fraternity)
Starting in February, while our
candidates are attending their formation sessions, we will be having on-going
formation!
Article 19.
Formation National Statutes
1.
Orientation
a.
Orientation
is a time for determining a person’s interest, eligibility and disposition to
enter into the initial formation process [cf. Guidelines for Initial Formation
in the Secular Franciscan Order in the United States (hereafter Guidelines for
Initial Formation), page 25].
b.
The
period of orientation shall consist of not less than three (3) months.
2.
Initial
Formation
a.
Inquiry
– The period of Inquiry, which begins with the Ceremony of Introduction and
Welcoming [cf. Ritual, page 9], shall consist of not less than six (6) months.
b.
Candidacy–
The period of Candidacy, which begins with the Rite of Admission [cf. Ritual,
page 11], shall consist of not less than eighteen (18) months and not more than
thirty-six (36) months.
c.
All
persons in initial formation, in addition to attending their formation
sessions, must participate in the meetings of the Local Fraternity as this is
an indispensable presupposition for initiation into community prayer and into
fraternity life [cf. General Constitutions, article #40.3].
d.
To
be admitted to the SFO in the United States, a person must be a fully initiated
member of the Catholic Church (i.e., having received the Sacraments of Baptism,
Chrismation/Confirmation and Holy Eucharist) in addition to being an actively
practicing Catholic.
3.
Profession
a.
The
minimum age for perpetual profession as a Secular Franciscan in the United
States is twenty-one (21) years.
b.
The
minimum age for temporary profession as a Secular Franciscan in the United
States is eighteen (18) years.
4.
Ongoing
Formation
Ongoing formation is the
responsibility of all professed members consonant with article #44 of the
General Constitutions.
5.
Form
and Methodology
a.
The
form (i.e., content and process; cf. General Constitutions, #38.2) to be
employed in both initial and ongoing formation is that found in the Guidelines
for Initial Formation.
b.
The
methodology employed in formation should be both interactive and experiential
in nature [cf. General Constitutions, #40.4].
c.
Opportunities
for fraternities to meet together for the purposes of common ongoing and
initial formation shall occur whenever possible at all levels of fraternity
[cf. General Constitutions, #40.1].
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