WHAT IS A SPIRITUAL ASSISTANT ?

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WHAT IS A SPIRITUAL ASSISTANT ?

• THE FRANCISCAN VISION

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• A focus on Jesus
• Marys self-giving
• Faithfulness to our duties
• Accepting all people

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• Becoming Builders
• Becoming Promoters
• Esteeming work
• Promoting family and married life

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• Respecting Gods creation
• Being ready to serve
• Understanding our financial support

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RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SPIRITUAL ASSISTANTS AND THE
FRATERNITY

• In the 20th century, OFSs came to rely on friar
  spiritual assistants for everything.
• Fraternities become devotional societies.

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What A Spiritual Assistant Is Not

• Not a director
• Not the leader
• Not in charge of all spiritual teaching
• Not the secretary or treasurer
• Not an know it all spiritual assistant

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• Pius XII, a tertiary, started the program of
  renewal of the Third Order as it was called then.
• Work that begun in the 1940s eventually resulted
  in our Rule of 1978.

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• What is the Secular Franciscan Order?
• Autonomous
• One Order
• United
• Secular
• Not an appendage to First Order/T.O.R

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• Councils are to ask for a suitable and
  well-prepared person as a spiritual assistant
• Requires someone who knows the history of the
  OFS.
• Requires constant interaction with
• the fraternity council.
• Keeps the VISION always in mind.

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• Peacemaker
• Mediator
• Model of Gospel life

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• A member of the fraternity council
• Has a vote in all things but financial questions
  and elections
• Has input on all fraternity issues
• Is a part of the formation team

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• ASSISTING IN FORMATION

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• Helps the council and formation team
• remember that formation must be
• Active Communal Ecclesial
  Seculal Joyful Open-ended
• Centered on Jesus Christ and His
• Gospel
• In a spirit of simplicity humility
• INTERACTIVE EXPERIENTIAL
• EVANGELICAL

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EXPECTATIONS OF A OFS COUNCIL
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SUMMARY

• Spiritual Assistant at any level should foster
  communion with the Church, bear witness to
  Franciscan spirituality, co-operate and
  collaborate in formation, and help nourish the
  Christian life of the community.
• THE END