OFS:
1
Plain and Simple
Carol Lieser OFS Summer Workshop LTC
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• The Rule of 1978 (The Pauline Rule)
–
–
–
–
–
Reinforces the nature of our “Order”
“Secular” Franciscan
We are Christ-Like and in the world
Return to the principles of the Founder (St. Francis)
The OFS – An Action oriented Order
• Is it “individual action” or “group action”?
Carol Lieser OFS Summer Workshop LTC
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Starting out: new members?
Stages to profession
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Starting out: Can you commit?
”Since you may be someone we haven’t met before, we need
to know if you will be able to attend our monthly formation
sessions and Fraternity gatherings. Our community
gatherings keep us growing in the Franciscan spirit and
strengthen our living of the Gospel. If you know that such
gatherings would be impossible for you to attend, it may give
us indications about the reality of your call to the OFS, at least
at this time in your life. Or we may be able to direct you to
another Fraternity with gatherings at a time more amenable to
your schedule.”
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Initial Interview
See Handout
Impediments to becoming OFS?
What are the signs of a vocation?
These issues should be discerned
through interview during first visits phase
Carol Lieser OFS Summer Workshop LTC
Formation- Road to being professed
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Lester Bach: (2010)The Franciscan
Journey: Embracing the Franciscan Vison.
Washington, DC: US Conferences of
Catholic Bishops: USCCB Pub
Chapter 1-3 Orientation phase
Chapter 4-9 Inquiry phase
Chapter 10- 33 Candidacy phase
Carol Lieser OFS Summer Workshop LTC
Orientation Period
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A critical time to discover together: A time of serious and
prayerful discernment of the call to OFS
Discover the visitors reasons for wanting to become a
Secular Franciscan
Formation Team observes the whole person: physically,
spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and interpersonally.
Requires good knowledge of catholic faith by the visitor
Time: At least 3-4 and maybe 6 months.
Determine how much time can be spent on one
person….
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Panel Discussion: On orientation
a brief discussion and opportunity for questions from attendees.
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Inquirer Stage- Ritual of the Secular
Franciscan Order pp 9-10
Ceremony of introduction and Welcoming
Simple ceremony performed before
fraternity members
Expresses support of inquirer and interest in
their journey by members.
Occurs within a regular fraternity meeting.
Symbols used: Rule of OFS National Statues
wooden Tau may be presented (optional)
 Six months, at least for this stage
Carol Lieser OFS Summer Workshop LTC
A
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Panel discussion of inquirer stage
Question and answer period from attendees
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Candidates stage
Individual makes a request and states a will to
experience the gospel life like St Francis.
The request is r/t a possible future profession
commitment to live this way of life.
Rite of Admission Franciscan Ritual pp11-17
Occurs within a fraternity meeting; not within a
Eucharistic celebration (p 4 Ritual)
• Presentation of a Crucifix (ideally a San
Damiano Cross), Candle, a Tau. A copy of the
Gospels is often given .. This may vary!
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Process
You may consider holding an interview
with the future candidate and the council
Allows better view of the individual and
gives the individual another opportunity to
consider if this is a good path to pursue.
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Panel discussion of Candidate Phase of Formation
Questions and Answers: What would you like to
know about this phase?
Carol Lieser OFS Summer Workshop LTC
Rite of Profession
14
The candidate writes a letter asking for
acceptance. This is voted on by the fraternity’s
council with aid of Spiritual Assistant. The vote is
a closed ballot, anonymous vote.
Public and ecclesial act
Performed at a Eucharistic celebration or at
appropriate celebration of Liturgy of the Word.
Expresses permanent commitment to Gospel
Life
Carol Lieser OFS Summer Workshop LTC
Determining candidate’s acceptance
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Council conducts an interview with the future
professed individuals
Development of a protocol for this interview by
Manuel Cortez, our regional Spiritual Assistant– see
handout
Important to include fraternity members in
discernment process prior to council interviews
Based on article 39-41 of Constitution for
profession
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Panel discusses profession
What questions do you have?
Carol Lieser OFS Summer Workshop LTC
Commitment means:
17
Renewal of one’s consecration and promises at Baptism and
Confirmation
Dedication of self to God through his people with all
consequences flowing from this
Living in union with God and holding firm to His plan of
salvation,
A consecration that is to be lived in the world
Incorporation into the OFS, which is a harmonious union of all
members who promise to live the gospel after the example o
St Francis of Assisi
Remaining in a secular vocation either as laity or clergy
Desire to live in the world and for the world
Carol Lieser OFS Summer Workshop LTC
Commitment is:
18
Desiring to live the gospel for the whole of one’s
life
Collaborating in building a more fraternal world
Experiencing the joy of sharing the journey of
gospel life with other members
Being incorporated into the local fraternity,
which is an integral part of the church.
The journey continues throughout one’s life
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More questions
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Promises, not VOWS, of Obedience
1. Secular Franciscans do not make vows of
obedience. This would be incompatible with a
normal family life and our secular and lay work.
2. Secular Franciscans live the spirit of the
evangelical counsel of obedience which is
obedience to the Gospel, to the Church, to the
Rule and to one’s conscience.
3. … I promise to live…the gospel of our Lord Jesus
Christ by observing its rule of life.
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Discussion
VOWS are not made; PROMISES are made!
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Commitment process (Ritual pp 18-26)
Received by the minister of the fraternity
in the name of the Church and Fraternity
Priest presides as a witness of the Church’s
hierarchy and of the Franciscan family.
A Franciscan priest is preferred.
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Our mission as Secular Franciscans
“Go into the whole world and proclaim the
good news to all creation.”
-Mark 16:15
“……….going from gospel to life, and life to
the gospel.”
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Responsibilities for each member
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
A Life-long commitment
Attends Fraternity meetings (gatherings)
Contributes to the common fund
Participates actively in Community
Participates in on-going formation
Willingly performs duties when asked
Votes and may be elected to office
Transfers Fraternities when moves
Carol Lieser OFS Summer Workshop LTC
“
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“It’s a question of discipline,”
the little prince told me.
“When you’ve finished washing
and dressing each morning, you
must then tend the planet!”
”
Antoine de Saint Exupéry in “The Little Prince”
What is your responsibility to your secular
vocation?
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Membership
Category
Visitor &/or
Inquirer
Candidate
Active
Professed
Excused
Professed
Regularly
Voting
Fraternity
A professed
attend
rights in the common
member of the
monthly Fraternity
fund
Secular
fraternity
contributes
Franciscan
meetings
Fair Share
Order
to Region
Yes
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Requires
Action by
Fraternity
Council
Yes
Yes
Yes
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Fraternity Council Meetings Monthly
Reports given by
Minister
Vice Minister
Secretary
Treasurer
Formation Director
Spiritual Assistant
Other as appropriate
Agenda, Minutes, Attendance Record
Planning of activities for fraternity
Carol Lieser OFS Summer Workshop LTC
Monthly Fraternity Meetings
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•Initial Formation monthly

•Prayer Service

•On-Going Formation

•Business Meeting

-Ritual to open meeting

-Minutes and Treasurers Report

-Old Business

- Reports (Formation & Apostolates)

•Close with Ritual/Prayer/Blessing
Carol Lieser OFS Summer Workshop LTC

-New Business
•Community Social Time
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Fraternity: Records/Information to Keep
Secretary/Treasurer reports
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Professed OFS Members:
• Member information: address, phone, e-mail, nearest
relative
• Copy of Profession document
• Copy of Transfer documents
• Roster of all members – categories separated
• Keep current – probably every 6 months
• Name tags for use at meetings/events
• Photographic album (s)
• Fraternity Banner
• Library
• Items with special significance to the Fraternity
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System to Preserve Docs:
• Canonical Establishment Document
• SFO Rule, Constitutions & Statutes/Guides
• Fraternity Guidelines
• Meeting sign-in book (bound)
• Activities Records (special events)
• Fraternity Ledger (bound)
• Regional/Spiritual Assistant Visitation Repts
• Fraternity Elections – dates, results
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Formation documents:
• Separate file for each
visitor/inquirer
• Interview documents
• Formation attendance-subjects
covered
• Copies of any records supplied by
individual
• Copy of profession document
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Correspondence & Minutes:
• Letters & e-mails – phone calls
• Province/Provincial Spiritual Assistant
• National SFO (letters TAU USA)
• lostrescompaneros.org
• Local Spiritual Assistant
• Other Fraternities
• Other entities (Chancery, local parish,
community groups, friaries, convents, etc)
• Meeting Minutes (General and Council)
• Prayer Services
• Annual reports to the region
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Region--- Los Tres Companeros/The Three
Companions
• Established in 1994
• Council: Minister of each fraternity in Region
• Exec Council:
•Minister, Josh Molidor
•Vice minister, Pura Reyna, vice minister
•Spiritual formation director, Carol Lieser
•Secretary, Dolores Boswell
•Treasurer, Chuck Lieser
•Spiritual Assistant, Manuel Cortez
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Portions and portion councilors
•Angelo (North–Jorge Sosing, OFS)
•Alternate-Norma Patricia Carranza (Paty), OFS
•Leo (Central – Richard Mendiola, OFS)
•Alternate– Ron Martinez OFS
•Rufino (South – Mary Vielma OFS
•Alternate- Oralia Garza, OFS
Carol Lieser OFS Summer Workshop LTC
OFS Regions in the USA
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The Franciscan Trilogy
First, Second and Third Order
It is the first (and only) religious experience, preordained to
apostolic life, born simultaneously and coordinated to involve
all states of life.
1. A common Founder
2. Same Charism & Same Mission in different states of life,
interdependent and complementary: all three for the
marvelous operation
3. Independence and Unity: Vital interconnection
Carol Lieser OFS Summer Workshop LTC
The Nature of the OFS
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The Franciscan nomenclature is inspired by this
historical and juridical classification, with some small
changes:
First Order – Religious and Clerics with Vows
Second Order – Consecrated nuns (Poor Clares)
Third Order – men and women, married or single,
living in their families and working in the “world”;
diocesan priests, deacons, TORs, clerics and
religious
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Nature of the Relationship with Franciscan
Religious and Assistance
In the context of the present church legislation, it is not
the 1st Order and TOR that has received the “privilege”
(Can 315) of jurisdiction over the OFS (altius moderamen)
but it is the OFS that has received from the Apostolic See
the privilege (can. 312 §3) of being under the jurisdiction
of the 1st Order & TOR, to achieve its spiritual good.
The 1st Order and TOR must offer the service of spiritual
assistance not because of a law instituted by St. Francis,
nor by its own initiative, but for an explicit request by the
Apostolic See.
Carol Lieser OFS Summer Workshop LTC
The unbreakable bond of the three orders
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… In various ways and forms but in life-giving (comm)union with
each other, they (the brothers and sisters of the three Orders)
intend to make present the charism of their common Seraphic
Father in the life and mission of the Church.
It follows that both the spiritual assistance and the altius
moderamen must always be referred to vital reciprocity and
viewed in the perspective of fraternity which binds indissolubly
the three Orders of the Franciscan Family. From this comes the
vocational necessity of a reciprocal spiritual dependence and of
mutual assistance.
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Food for thought
– Secular Franciscans are “not vowed religious”.
Describe what that really means to each of us as we
make our way in the world.
Carol Lieser OFS Summer Workshop LTC
Explain what an “order” is
42
Group discussion
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Discussion point
– Explain the “basic unit” of the OFS.
– How does this basic unit relate to a “Region”
and how do Regions Relate to NaFra and to
CIOFS?
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St. Clare Crowley
Immaculata Arlington
St. Angela San Angelo
San Damiano Dallas
St. Francis of
Assisi - Dallas
Señor Santo
Niño - Dallas
San Bonaventura
FW- emerging
Local Fraternities within our Region
http://lostrescompañeros.org/
Padre Pio Georgetown
St. Francis of
Assisi -San Antonio
Sacred Heart Austin
San Jose San Antonio
St. Jose Obrero Mc Allen
St. Paschal Baylon Weslaco
San Antonio De Padua –
Hebbronville
San Felipe De Jesus –
Laredo
Sts. Francis & ClareVictoria
Carol Lieser OFS Summer Workshop LTC
Hierarchical structure
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International Fraternity
CIOFS
National Fraternity
NaFra
Los Tres Compañeros Region
Region of OFS
Rufino Portion
Leo Portion
Angelo Portion
Local fraternities
Carol Lieser OFS Summer Workshop LTC
Authority
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In the OFS, there is a Council and its Minister, and not the
other way around. The Minister is obliged to do what the
Council decides (the Minister is part of it and presides
over it).
The election of a Minister does not confer on him/her the
power to do what he/she wants, but only the power to
serve the brothers and sisters, help them and love them (cfr
GG.CC. 31.2).
Nature of authority in the Order must be understood always
in the spirit of the two verbs used in our Rule and
Constitutions: animate and guide – not command and
prescribe.
Carol Lieser OFS Summer Workshop LTC
Authority in the OFS
47
The governing bodies of the OFS do also have authority. This
specifically applies to:
- The admission and reception of Profession in nomine
Ecclesiae
- The presidency of elective chapters of Fraternities of
the lower levels.
- The fraternal visits, in which the visitor has the authority
and the duty to suggest, and at times impose,
measures when fraternity is not authentically lived or
the Rule is clearly violated or, in general, when there
are objectively severe problems.
- The possibility of suspending or removing from the
Order.
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Other categories to be aware of
We will cover these in future workshops.
Regional Guidelines Title 13; Canon 92-98
We are not covering these areas today
Withdrawal from fraternity
Voluntary
Involuntary
Lapsed
Voluntary
Involuntary
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Discussion
– Define the relationship between the OFS and the
First Order/TOR?
– Describe the “Nature of Authority” in the OFS.
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Review
Profession incorporates the individual person in the
entire Order as a whole and not only into a local
Fraternity. Only in the awareness of our belonging to
the entire Order, can we fulfill our vocation to
fraternity and make present the charism of St. Francis,
individually and as an Order, in the life and mission of
the Church.
Carol Lieser OFS Summer Workshop LTC
Review
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The rule of subsidiarity, is fundamental: local Fraternities
are the mainstay of the Order: in them the brothers and
sisters live. Fraternities have (they all should) a broad selfdetermination capacity and what they can legally do should
be done without undue intrusions by the higher levels.
The regional and national governing councils are organs of
connection and coordination, not of command. They are
structures to serve, to guide and to animate, to establish
bridges between fraternities
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Discussion
Do you still have questions about the OFS?
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Question to ponder
Do you understand what a commitment
to Franciscan promises means? Discuss
what this means to you.
Carol Lieser OFS Summer Workshop LTC
References/Resources
54
Bach, Lester (2010). The Franciscan Journey:
Embracing the Franciscan Vision. Wash, DC:
USCCB. Formation text for orientees, inquirers and
candidates to the OFS.
CNSA (2011). Franciscan Family Connections:
program for preparing people to serve as
Spiritual Assistants to the SFO (Rev Ed.)
Lindsborg,KS: Smokey Valley Printing.
 Missionary Sisters of the Society of St Paul the
Apostle in the State of NY. (1982). Francis and
Clare: The complete works. Trans by Regis J
Armstrong OFM, CAP and Ignatius C. Brady,
OFM. NY: Paulist Press.
Carol Lieser OFS Summer Workshop LTC
References/Resources
55
 Ritual of the Secular Franciscan Order (1985). Cinti, OH:
St Anthony Messenger Press.
 Los Tres Compañeros - The Three Companions Region
lostrescompaneros.org
 The Tau --quarterly newsletter from NAFRA
 Essential Documents of the Secular Franciscan Order
 Rule of the Secular Franciscan Order https://www.nafra-sfo.org/sforule.html
 General Constitution of Secular Franciscans
www.nafra-sfo.org/GC2000.doc
 International Order of Secular Franciscans
http://www.ciofs.org/
 Los Tres Compañeros Regional Guidelines.
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More references
 Bach, Lester (2014). Giving life to the words: a
spiritual commentary on the Secular Franciscan
constituions. Smoky Valley Printing.
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Regional Guidelines
Copies now available in English and
Spanish
lostrescompaneros.org
Carol Lieser OFS Summer Workshop LTC
St Francis of Assisi
Pray for US!
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Carol Lieser OFS Summer Workshop LTC