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5. Formation MP 27-37, 42-44
The priorities we have chosen for this sexennium to make our manner of "following the Gospel more closely" specific will be capable of imparting new vigour to the path followed by the Order at present only if they become ours by means of a "solid formation which ensures human and spiritual growth, creative fidelity to our charism, lived within the Fraternity as the place of encounter with God". Formation is in fact the humus from which they receive life. It follows that an adequate and specific formation is the sine qua non condition for assuring the quality and credibility of our life and mission; for effectively transmitting to young candidates for the Order our forma vitae along a journey of formation in which every stage is clearly defined and where the succession of stages is characterized by unity, graduality and consistency; for being in a position to proclaim and propose to the young people of today the Franciscan charism in a form which they find concrete and attractive. For this further priority to be realized, we ask the Provinces to draw up or review their own Project for Formation so that ongoing and initial formation have as its aim to form true Friars Minor. Thus the Project ought to contribute to ensuring that 1) the Provinces and Fraternities study suitable ways of putting into practice Chapter VI of the General Constitutions and the documents of the Order RFF and OF; 2) the Provinces and Fraternities find the means to help the old and sick friars to live out their human and Franciscan identity in a way adequate to their concrete situation; 3) every Province determines in its own Particular Statutes the time which must be given to exclusively Franciscan formation in its theoretical and practical dimensions during the period of temporary profession; 4) every Province undertakes the study of adequate forms of individual accompaniment of friars after they make their solemn profession of vows or receive priestly Ordination, an accompaniment which should have a duration of not less than five years and a well defined programme; 5)every Province numbers among its principal concerns the formation of formators: checking their suitability; taking care that those responsible for formation are not only equipped culturally, but are also in a position to stimulate those in formation to know, love and follow Christ in the charismatic perspective of Saint Francis of Assisi through a contemplative interiorization of the essential elements of our life; 6) every Province promotes study in every way it can and sponsors wherever possible the creation of Centres of Study and Spirituality in which those areas are investigated, taught and brought to the fore which belong to our Franciscan tradition and which respond to the present options of the Order having in view the search for truth of our contemporaries. 7) in the formation programmes, both initial and ongoing, the collaboration of the Franciscan Family be sought; account be taken of topics regarding dialogue, mission "ad gentes", justice, peace and the safeguarding of creation; 8) the Provinces, each according to its means, commit themselves to assisting the "Fund for Formation and Studies" project, so that everyone may play a part in the formation of the friars in poorer Entities; 9) every Province works out a Project for the Pastoral Care of Vocations and forms the friars for this service in a such a way that they may be capable of welcoming and accompanying those young men whom the Lord wants to give us as Brothers;
10) at least in every Chapter the
Provinces carry out an evaluation of the Formation Project
and the Project for the Pastoral Care of Vocations.
reflecting
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