Fred's Notes on the Regional Annual Meeting in May 2008

The following are notes I took at the Regional Meeting, not in any particular order, but I would like to share them with you nonetheless.

On Saturday, May 24, 2008, the National Spiritual Assistant (CNSA), Fr. Kevin, TOR, reflected on some topics.

There is a great need of new Spiritual Assistants. There are 176 Fraternities in USA that do not have a Spiritual Assistant. (And we know, there are many in FFMR that also do not have Spiritual Assistants!). So there is an urgency to train new Spiritual Assistants from among the laity, that is SFO. Toward that end, there is a new text available "Franciscan Family Connections" of new Spiritual Assistant Instructions.

There is also a new book on Servant Leadership coming out soon (to be published by Paulist Press) by Fr. Bernie Tickerhoof TOR.

Also: A Summer Seminar on Servant Leadership will be held Thursday, June 26 through Sunday, June 29, 2008 at Saint Francis University, Loretto, featuring Fr. Bernie Tickerhoof, TOR and Ann Mulqueen, SFO as the main speakers.

See also Institute of Contemporary Franciscan Life at Saint Francis University, Loretto, PA

Fr. Lester Bach has published a new book, which is great for ongoing formation. The title:

SEEKING THE GOSPEL LIFE

More emphasis must be placed on Ongoing Formation. Patrick Mendes, National Minister related to us/me an example. He had made a visitation to a particular Fraternity, which we better not name, and had asked one of the Officers/Ministers, a particular question about one of the Articles in the Rule of Saint Francis. The Officer replied that he had no idea of that particular article of the Rule. This is not an isolated incident, and we fear that many SFO Franciscans only study the Rule of St. Francis when they are in initial formation for SFO. Fr. Kevin noted that each of us should read one article of the Rule each and every day. If we are to live according to the Rule, we must know it fairly much by heart!

As an aside, many months ago, Patrick had emailed me (Fred) and suggested I prepare "Reflections on the Holy Rule." It wasn't one of my best efforts but it's there. I guess I also need more reading of the Rule.

"Vital Reciprocity"

Fr. Kevin mentioned this so-called “Vital Reciprocity” -- where we are equal in rank (for lack of another word) to our brother friars, our sister nuns, Poor Clares, etc., and to our roots in the TOR (before it was split to reflect TOR on one hand and SFO on the other. As a former OFM postulant and novice, I (Fred) have experienced this relationship firsthand, in two ways. First, the friars (those who were not directly involved with SFO) were very interested to learn firsthand what the SFO was all about, so that they could better identify with us, and secondly, they have us in their prayers daily. We should do the same, and examine their lifestyle. There is ONE CHARISM but many different groups. And, even though the friars (the Province with whom each fraternity is Canonically bonded under Altius moderamen) have this responsibility to provide Spiritual Assistance to us, we are their brothers and sisters in the same way as they are our brothers. This cannot be emphasized enough, so let us show interest in them too, and that was the point Fr. Kevin was trying to bring out … that is reciprocity. So, please send your newsletter to the Obedience (friar branch) with whom your fraternity is bonded. If you do not know which group this is, ask your Fraternity Minister to examine the Certificate of Canonical Approbation of the Fraternity, where this information is shown.

For many SFO fraternities in FFMR (but not all), they are bonded with the OFM of Holy Name Province, the same Province Fr. Tom Murphy belongs to, and, I believe the remainder of the Fraternities in our Region belong to the T.O.R. (but I am not sure). It should be remembered that there are many more SFO's then friars, so while it is possible to switch Obediences, it might not be wise because the Obediences are already outdone. In other words, they will happily let a fraternity go, but are hard put to take on new ones.

New Officers were elected for the Five Franciscan Martyrs Region (see, but note that the Regional Commissioners will probably change, since they are appointed by new Ministers and Executive Council and they haven't had time to get into this yet).

It is very important to note, in general, that when a local Fraternity member has a question, that he/she seeks to find the answer to that question in the local fraternity. That is the way the SFO is set up. If the answer to the question isn't to be found on the local fraternity level, then it is up to the Fraternity Minister to contact the next higher fraternity, which will be FFMR in our case. However, our newly elected Regional Minister shared with us that he is still working (many of the former ministers were retired from commercial endeavor), and he asked that any questions be addressed to the six Area Councilors (who form with the Ministers, the Regional Executive Board), and these Area Councilors are the following:
 

Area Councilors

So the Area Councilors, who are very experienced and long-time Secular Franciscans can answer most questions, and if they are stumped, they can/will go to our brother Hans. Let us pray for all Officers and Councilors in FFMR for the term of their election (3 years). They are our brothers and sisters, as we are theirs.

It is our hope that there will be more Area meetings.

Newly elected Regional Vice Minister, Ed Duff, said that we are a family. And that the bond we have to one another is stronger than a human bond because we are united in the Heart of God.

I do not recall if Ed said this or someone else, but what Ed said, above, is a very great thing... and that leads me to the matter of Monthly Meeting Attendance, something I've talked about before, on this website. SFO is a family from the top down and from the bottom up. It is an International family, with 1.6 Million Secular Franciscans worldwide. And, while I didn't note down the exact number, I believe we have 700+ fraternities in USA. We have a spiritual work to do - to live the Gospel, from Gospel to Life, and Life to Gospel (see Rule 4 of the Rule of St. Francis for Secular Franciscans).

In addition to this fraternal bonding within SFO, we also, through "Vital Reciprocity" need to bond to the other Obediences (OFM, OFMCap., OFMConv., and TOR). To carry on with what Ed Duff said, above, ...we are bonded together in the Heart of God, through our Profession in St. Francis. And if we live our lives in Obedience to our Rule, then together we will be strong to face the world as it is today.

Let us pray for one another,

Your brother, Fred

Fred Schaeffer, SFO 5-26-08
Regional Webmaster

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