Guidelines to Initial Formation

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Guidelines to Initial Formation

• Chapter 2
• Sections D E
• Agents of Formation

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Council, Formation Director Formation Team

• The Fraternity Council has big responsibilities!
• Among other things it is to
• be VITALLY concerned with the
• formation process !

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The Council

• is NOT just responsible for formation in
  the fraternity
• it MUST TAKE an active role in it.

4
It Must Adapt Formation Programs

• to meet the mandated the
  processes, needs, abilities of those
  involved.
• Time and available space should be adjusted to
  meet those needs.

5
The Council Must

• Continually evaluate the formation process and
  program.
• Continually improve the process.
• Design the formation programs to meet the needs
  of those being formed.
• N.B. This applies to both ongoing and
  initial formation.

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The Council Must

• Discern a vocation actually exists ! Not
• a warm body to become the new Minister!
• Discern that the prospective member has the
  ability to make a life-long commitment
• And does he/she actively and fully participate
  in the life of the fraternity/ Order?
• N.B. A vocation is not based just on a
  persons desire to join an Order.
• (any Order ?)

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The Council is Responsible for theInitial
Formationin the Fraternity.. .

• Orientation
• Inquiry
• Candidacy

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AndThe Council is Responsible for the
On-Going Formationin the Fraternity
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General Constitutions

• Article 37.4 states that the formation process
  shall be governed by the National and Regional
  Councils.
• Article 40.4 states that a style of teaching
  which is Franciscan in nature should be adopted.

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The National Statutes State in Article 5 (Form of
Methodology)

• The form (i.e. content process cf. Gen.
  Const., 38.2) to be employed used in both
  initial and on-going formation is that found in
  the Guidelines for Initial Formation.
• b. The method to be used in formation should both
  be interactive (conversational) and experiential
  (practical) in nature.

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The Regions Guidelines for Formation

• The Executive Council of the St. Francis Region,
  Southern California, selected a formation process
  that follows the Guidelines for Formation as
  mandated.
• Those Guidelines were assembled by
• The National Formation Commission
• of The National Fraternity of the
• Secular Franciscan Order in the USA.
• We follow this process as it is STATUTORY
  !!!

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Formation

• Is not just information !
• It is information, transformed by the heart
  desire thru the Holy Spirit
• affecting how we live, how we think, how we act
• even how we pray and play.
• It is that information that leads to on-going
  conversion.

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Formation

• is the life blood and the substance
  of being fraternity, of Being Franciscan.
• is that single element in fraternity
• life that causes us to grow in our understanding
  of what it means to
• BE Franciscan, to grow in our faith, and to
  grow in our relationships as brothers/ sisters in
  the Lord.

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Who Forms Who?

• The presenter (leader) of a formation session is
  known as the Formator.
• A Formator only provides the means that allows
  one to be formed.
• An individual forms himself/herself through the
  efforts of the Holy Spirit and is NOT formed
  by the FORMATER.

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The Council Must

• Implement The Rule
• The Constitutions
• And The Statutes
• for
• Admission . Profession
• And
• Dismissal of unsuitable Candidates in formation

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Who Should Lead the Formation Sessions?

• Professed members who are knowledgeable and well
  suited for this ministry.
• All Council members should be formators !
• The Fraternity Council should provide the
  necessary training for this essential work.
• N.B. Preparation/training for this
  ministry should be done in advance of
  need.

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Formation Director and The Formation Team

• The Formation Director is an elected member of
  the Council at the Local level.
• The Formation Director is appointed at the
  Regional, National and International Levels.
• The Formation Director and the team are crucial
  in the life of the fraternity.
• They are the facilitators/enablers who move
  Candidates toward profession.

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Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

• After weighing the spiritual maturity of the
  various members of the fraternity, and
• After weighing their specific abilities and
  qualifications
• The Council is to select the Formation Team from
  its professed members.

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The Formation Team

• Must be able to share but not dominate a
  conversation
• Must be able to talk freely about spiritual,
  psychological, and social issues (but not as a
  psychiatrist !)
• Must be able to discuss Franciscan values
• Must be able to offer guidance for spiritual
  growth

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Knowledgeable and Well Suited

• Eager to guide Inquirers and Candidates toward
  Profession.
• Must be able to impart adequate know-ledge of
  scripture how to live the Gospel
• Must be able to give instruction in Secular
  Spirituality, Franciscanism, and Theo-logical
  Reflection.
• Should be able to interpret the signs of the
  times.

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AND.

• Work with and cooperate with the Council, the
  Formation Director, and the Spiritual Assistant.

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.

• How many members in your fraternity meet these
  ideals?
• Do you? If not
• YOU WILL !!!

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Discussion Questions

1. What is formation?
2. Who is responsible for formation/ Why?
3. Why cant we just use a cookie-cutter formation
   program?
4. What is the purpose of Initial Formation?
5. What is the purpose of On-Going Formation?
6. Who decides the content process used in
   formation? Why?
7. Are all potential members automatically advanced
   to profession? Why? Why not?
8. Why does a fraternity need a formation team?
9. What qualities should a formator possess?