Introduction
The first words that come to mind in presenting the theme, The Unity of the SFO, are those, which come from the Rule, defining the Secular Franciscan Order (SFO) as "an organic union of all the Catholic Fraternities scattered around the whole world." (Rule, art.2) "The International Fraternity identifies itself with the totality of the SFO." (CC.GG. Art.69, 1).
To speak of the unity of the SFO is to embark on the road that moves one from theory to practice which not always an easy task. In any case the reality of the SFO presents us with the basis for unity in these terms: the Rule, (that "splendid gift" of the Holy Spirit) approved and confirmed by Pope Paul VI. When confirming our Rule, the pope claimed: it "is an authentic treasure in your hands, in tune with the spirit of Vatican II in keeping with how much the Church expects of you today"[1]. We also have our Constitutions, which "ratify, without derogation, the union of ordinances, of structures, of formative and operative lines"[2] an "International Fraternity ... guided and animated by the Minister or President, with the International Council (CISFO, headquartered in Rome" (CC.GG. art. 69,2). However, we are to renew and to convert ourselves in order to complete what lacks to the project for unity of the Secular Franciscan Order, which is manifested in the union of the SFO and the associated union of the Spiritual Assistants at various levels: regional, national and international. Furthermore, we need to keep in mind that it is the Spirit who encourages us, and that our unity can only "be found in the action of the Holy Spirit"[3]. Our union is supported by mutual love, deepened by training, guaranteed by ministry of the brothers and sisters, assisted by the brothers of the First Order and the TOR and a mature awareness of one’s responsibilities".
Making Headway
The project of the past, to which Pope Leo XIII exhorted the Secular Franciscans (tertiaries at the time) was to join forces. Many of these were feeling the need of finding an organic and permanent form of coordinating the fraternities of differing obediences. This is made present today, in "the union of the Secular Franciscan Order” as a "characteristic present in its practical and organizational plan"[4]. The present task is that of completing in each nation and in each region the union of the Secular Franciscan Order as is expressed and affirmed in legislative texts and its proper juridical identity in the Church and in its International Council. The theoretical union always has been maintained, in spite of the division of "obediences” in the secular fraternity, depending on which Franciscan Order (OFM, OFM Conv, OFM Cap or TOR.) the Spiritual Assistant came from. Given all of this, the move to a practical union has gone maturing and still needs to reach full and total completion. A journey of renovation and deepening has been made in this regard. This has been done in the nature of the SFO, in the rediscovery of the Franciscan charisma, in the place that the Gospel has in the life of the Fraternity, in its secular nature, its autonomy and its self-government. All countries, except Italy, have a National Council and a Minister, and an Association of Spiritual Assistants, which is a sign of unity, although some revision is still necessary. In and of itself, this union is a mature fruit, to which all of us should contribute so that it will become effective. In particular, the Secular Franciscan needs to be capable of knowing how live in simplicity, but with audacity. S/he needs to live the norms of the Rule, the Constitutions, the Minister/President and Council... S/he needs to bring these to practical and daily life by feeling and living this union, and vice-versa.
To Promote the Charism of Unity
The fruit as I say, is mature, but there is still much to be done. The general Chapter of Fátima recommended the need to have the administration animate towards (Encourage) Unity: "The administration will Animate and promote the overcoming of the divisions that in the past had characterized the Secular Order". And also: "The administration will give much attention to attaining its own internal union, union between the CISFO and union at the domestic and regional levels. The administration needs to stimulate all the national Fraternities to accomplish the unity delineated by the Rule and by the General Constitutions" This task, is the animation effort that leads to a perfect harmony and of life and requirements to which the Rule and the Constitutions urge us. This task must be continued, because, though in fact unity exists in writing, it still needs to be assumed by its members through an active participation, which requires a real maturity and training.
Animation through Spiritual Assistance
It is also task of the brothers of the First Order and of the TOR. in the first place, to accept these structural changes. We are asked us to be at the side of the laity, of our Secular Franciscans, which, as is recognized by Vatican II, have in the Church maturity and a responsibility. "Relying on the laity, one needs to entrust them with tasks of service in the Church, allowing them freedom and action, even inviting them opportunely to undertake activities of their own initiative"[5]. Paraphrasing a text of the "Christi Fideles Laici": we need to help our Secular Franciscan brothers and sisters to have an ever clearer notion of not only of belonging to an order, the Secular Franciscan Order, but that they are the Order, in charismatic communion with the brothers of the First Order and of the TOR. They are the Secular Franciscan Order[6].
Recognizing the mature age of the laity and our responsibility as "the high direction" and spiritual assistance, we, the friars need to know how to share that direction of the Fraternities at various levels. We need to be able to share the tasks of accompaniment and spiritual assistance, while at the same time, being animators of unity, which is not easily assumed. This ability to share the tasks of direction is a characteristic of our Franciscan maturity and of our minority. With this in mind, I think it opportune to transcribe some thoughts from the letter that the General Minister, Friar. Agostino Gardin, OFM Conv, as President, has sent to all the Provincial Ministers of the Franciscan Family of the First Order and the TOR of Italy. After inviting to "not leaving this situation unresolved, no matter how difficult it may be", they, the Ministers of the spiritual Assistants and "the high direction" he adds a text of the apostolic Exhortation Vita Consecrata. "The Church entrusts to the communities of consecrated life, the particular task of encouraging the spirituality of the communion, first of all in its interior and, as well as in the ecclesial community and beyond" (n. 51, cf. arts. 41,45, 46, 47). As Franciscans, we are called to be "peaceable, peaceful and decorous, amiable and humble" (2R. 3,11), promoters of peace, of reconciliation and harmony in all the situations and circumstances. Should we not then be thus in a particular way, with the secular brothers and sisters that share the Franciscan ideal and spirituality with us?" Only a positive response, of animation and of accompaniment toward the union will indicate that we have understood that the SFO has the "secular character ... that is proper and peculiar to the laity". Therefore, within the great Franciscan Family, "the participation of the faithful lay has its own modality of performance and function, that, according to the Council, is it’s own and peculiar to them. Such a modality is designated with the expression “secular nature"(CFL 15) which for the Secular Franciscan is manifested in the union of all the members of the Secular Franciscan Order.Let Us Be Invaded By the Spirit
Since we are in the second year of preparation toward the Grand Jubilee, a year, which is devoted to the Holy Spirit, let us be penetrated by Him, the Spirit of the unity. We will ask many things, even the most serious things, of God’s Spirit for others. But, as always, we ask only for others. Let us to stop a moment, and let us be invaded by this same Spirit, whose fruits are "love, happiness, peace, tolerance, pleasure, generosity, loyalty, simplicity, self control" (Gal. 55,22), foundation of charismatic unity. The Spirit can renew all, but only with us, with our yes, He can convert us, but it will do nothing without us. I place before you two texts from the letter of the Conference for the Franciscan Family on the topic that we are dealing with, that they not be forgotten. First from "Our Service to the Spirit": "We should not forget that the first visible effect of the coming of the Spirit in Pentecost was that of gathering various peoples into one faith. He is the Spirit of unity and is present everywhere that union is created or consolidated..." (n. 9). In "The Spirit of Unity", we find that the SFO is "called to live this spirit of unity, especially within. [...] We want to insist, as in last year’s pre-jubilee letter, on inviting you to a greater communion and collaboration within the great Franciscan Family. [...] Within the three Franciscan Orders [...] meetings, informal exchanges, common moments of prayer and reflection, concrete initiatives of communion and fraternity are favored " (n. 13). Among the concrete communion initiatives, we can indicate the "union of the Secular Franciscan Order” being reinforced with training activities, prayer, and reflection, and fraternal meetings in the nations where still it has not been reached, or needs to be strengthened.
The "Rule": Sign of Unity for the SFO
Looking back on the road traveled by the Secular Franciscans, we realize that some of the steps taken have been of singular importance and are signs of the presence of the Spirit.
I want to recall the figure and the memory of Francis of Assisi, sign of the refreshing and encouraging presence of the Spirit in his time. Francis devoted his life to penance, lived "in conversion", and, at the same time, entered the penitential movement. In second place, Francis was loyal to the Spirit of the Lord in the Church and with the Church, in a period of so much confusion and so many movements that claimed to be guided by that same Spirit, but which had neither peace nor unity. To this one must to add the interest given by Francis and his brothers to the penitential movement, which began the so called Third Order, or today’s Secular Franciscan Order: "Married men told him: ‘we have wives that not permit us to leave them. Show us a road that we could take to arrive to the salvation’. And with them the brothers established an order that is called of penitents"[7]. They received a "norm of life", that was already found delineated in the first Letter to the Faithful, and was somewhat more developed in the second draft of the same, with these five elements:
Juridically, this norm of life will be better detailed in the "Memoriale propositi" of the 1221-1228. The first was work of Francis and cardinal Hugolino. The same Hugolino, then Pope Gregory IX, gave that of 1228 to the “penitents”. Its 39 articles regulate austerity of life, poverty in dress, fasting, frequent reception of the sacraments, works of mercy, etc. The "Memoriale" is updated in three great rules in the course of the time. The Rule of Nicholas IV (Friar Jerome Masci of Ascoli Piceno, Franciscan), that improved the rule prepared by Friar Caro of Arezzo (Guardian and Custos in Florence). The Rule was published with the bull "Supra Montem" (18.VIII.1289). It was followed for almost six hundred years. This "unity" of Rule contrasts with the called "obediences" that they have been maintained until today, that are nothing more than a reflection of disunity and separation between Conventuals and Observants. A separation ratified by Leo X in 1517, followed by the subsequent separation of other reform, the Capuchins, in 1525, and eventually followed by the TOR. Our separations have impinged on the theoretical but not real and practical union of the Secular Franciscan Order which we are called to help recover. They are "secular", not friars; the SFO is not identified with any of the branches of the First Order or the TOR, not even with their geographical presence or structures. Leo XIII published a new Rule with the bull "Misericors Dei Filius" (30.V.1883), known as Rule of Leo XIII. Even though it maintained the structure of "obediences", in the horizon there began to emerge a little cloud the idea of the "union of the Order". The same Leo XIII considered the Third Order a "single Order", when he wrote: "when I speak of social reform, I think especially of the Third Order of Saint Francis". And in other part: "The Third Order of Saint Francis organized for social action is capable of giving wonderful fruits"[8]. The "inter-obedience" that it appears in the Constitutions of the 1977, was the first step to achieve the union of the SFO, which existed from its beginning, but was darkened with the division of the First Order into several Families.
The Rule of Paul VI
"Memoriale Propositi" as well as the Rules of Nicholas IV and Leo XIII, gain in jurisdiction, but lack the force of the Word and the sense of "penance" (charism). Paul VI, 24 of June of 1978, published the current Rule with the bull "Seraphicus Patriarcha", that started with the Letter to all the Faithful, in its first draft, and recovered the value and the foundation of the Word: "to observe the Gospel" (Cf. Rule, art. 4), to seek the "operating and living person of Christ" (Cf. Rule, art. 5)... as well as the sense of the "penance", of the "conversion" 9 Cf. Rule, art. 7), the just relationship to the land goods and the testimony of the goods future (Cf. Rule, arts. 11-12.)... Furthermore, if the Rules of these long seven and half centuries are the principal sign of "union" of the SFO, at this time, the Rule of Paul VI has given the accolade to such "union", because it speaks of a single Rule, some General Constitutions, a General Minister and a single International Council... A structure that forgets the "obediences", which reflect the existing division in the First Order. The General Constitutions make no mention to "inter-obedience", because the SFO is a single and united Order that "is governed by the universal law of the Church and by its own Rule, Constitutions, Ritual and particular Bylaws" (CC.GG. art. 4,1). The Secular Franciscan Order has a proper personality: "It is divided into Fraternities, of various levels or degrees: local, regional, national and international. Each one of these Fraternities has its own moral personality in the Church". The General Constitutions repeat: "Each one (of the Fraternities in its various levels), individually, has juridical personality in the Church"(CC.GG. art. 1,5).
However, an affection bond of family, of gratefulness remains between the Fraternities of the SFO and the Communities of the friars through "the high direction" and the spiritual assistance, which try "to live in "reciprocal vital communion" with all the members of the Franciscan Family" (CC.GG. art 98,1). But, the geographical structure of the friars must not impinge in any way with the regional or national structure of the Secular Franciscan Order. "The regional Fraternity is the organic union of all the existing local Fraternities in a territory or that can be integrated in a natural union, either by the geographical proximity, common problems or pastoral realities. It assures the link between the local and national Fraternities, as regards the union of the SFO and the associated integration of the various Franciscan Obediences that eventually care for the spiritual assistance of the area" (CC.GG. art 61,1). This is repeated when speaking of the national Fraternity, which has nothing to do with the Provinces of the friars: "The national Fraternity is the organic union of the existing Fraternities in the territory of a state or national entity, united and coordinated mutually through the regional Fraternities where these exist" (CC.GG. art. 65,1). While the International Fraternity "is identified with the whole the SFO it has its own juridical personality in the Church" (CC.GG. art. 69,1).
Looking Towards the future
Juridical union, in and of itself, with its International Council and with its National and Regional Councils, is a sign of human, evangelical and Franciscan, growth and has profit for all, secular and religious, society and Church, because sisters and brothers are vessels in which are given and enriched with gifts. Friar Jaime Zudaire asserts: "the organic expression communion (common union; unity) speaks of soul and body. Soul: fraternal affection, common ideal, the desire to serve and aid reciprocally and the accomplishment of common works to promote the good. Body: organization, juridical procedures that are incarnation, sign and instrument of the vocation of living in local and universal Fraternity". It seems opportune to bring to mind the words of Francis that recall the presence of the Holy Spirit as animating the Fraternities toward the union: "The Saint always had the constant desire [...] of assuring the link of the union among his children so that those which had been attracted by a same Spirit and begotten by a same Father are tapered in peace in the lap of a same mother". The unity of self-government, and the unity of the whole family in a shared charism are two expressions of the efforts for maintaining the link that unites us as brothers and sisters and the efforts to reach a mutual understanding of two realities: the friars and the secular Franciscans, animated by a same Spirit: "Between the religious and the secular there exists, in fact, and there needs to be increasingly developed a reciprocal vital communion, demanded by their belonging to the same family, though in various ways".
In Conclusion The Secular Franciscans will achieve the desired union studying, loving and living the Rule, as John Paul II requests: "study; love; live the Rule of the Secular Franciscan Order, approved for you by my predecessor Paul VI. It is an authentic treasure in your hands, in tune in with the spirit of the Vatican Council II and corresponds to how much the Church desires of you [...] The Church has need of you in order for the world to recover the primacy of the spiritual values". This same exhortation of John Paul II serves us religious, as well. We should study the Rule and Constitutions of the SFO and love them, so that we can help the members of the Secular Franciscan Order to live them. Only by knowing them, will we love them, and by loving them, we shall invite and assist the brothers and sisters to live in the unity and communion of one Order, which together with the First, the Second, and the TOR can form the greater Franciscan Family.
[1] John Paul II, Ai membri del Consiglio Internazionale dell’SFO, in L’Osservatore Romano, 28; September 1982.
[2] EMANUELA DE NUNZIO, “Presentación de las Constituciones y su entrada en vigor”, en “Regla y Constituciones de la Orden Franciscana Seglar”, p. 49.
[3] “Tertio Millennio adveniente”, n. 47.
[4] EMANUELA DE NUNZIO, “o.c.”, p. 49.
[5] Decreto “Presbyterorum Ordinis”, 9.
[6] “In as much, they especially need to be conscious all the more, of not just belonging to the Church, but of being Church... They are the Church” (Christi Fideles Laici (=CFL), 9).
[7] AP. 41; CFriar 1C. 37; LM. 4,6; TC. 60.
[8] AA.VV., Dizionario Francescano, cols. 1299-1300
Zambia
The General Minister Emanuela De Nunzio and the General Assistant Friar Ben Brevoort, OFM Cap, from 6 to 14 October 1997, celebrated the fraternal and pastoral visit to the Fraternity of Zambia.
Canada
Carl Schafer OFM spent a week visiting Quebec Province before attending the
National Elective Chapter in Ottawa, 23-25 May 1997. Accompanied by two
National Assistants, Henri Ethier OFM and André Chicoine OFMCap, he met
Fraternities in Montréal, Trois-Rivières, Lac Bouchette, and
Chicoutimi, and visited "Urgence Vie" in St. Hyacinthe. He spoke with Jacques
Bélanger OFMCap, Minister Provincial, and with the Assistants in
Montréal. Laura Haukaas, International Councillor USA, presided over the
elective Chapter where Françoise Malboeuf was re-elected National
Minister. Much effort is being made to achieve the unity of the National
Fraternity. Three Regional Fraternities are already functioning.
Tanzania
The elective national Chapter was celebrated in Tanzania, from 21 to 23 October 1997. It was presided over by the General Minister Emanuela De Nunzio. The General Assistant Friar Ben Brevoort, OFM Cap was present. Felix Mosha was confirmed National Minister. A training seminar for assistants was celebrated from 18-20 and 24-27 October. The General Minister Emanuela De Nunzio and the General Assistant Friar Ben Brevoort, OFM Cap, directed it.
Sweden
The second elective national chapter of the SFO of Sweden was celebrated in Stockholm on 25-26 October 1997. Anny Mathiesen (Linköping) was elected national Minister, for a second triennium, with Yvone Ricci (Umea) as Vice Minister. The Chapter was presided over by Marianne Powell, Councilor of the CISFO Administration, with the presence of P. Zvonimir Brusac, TOR, and General Assistant. Two conferences were held during the Chapter: "The Secular Franciscan in Scandinavia", by M. Powell, and "What happens in the Other National Fraternities of the SFO ", by the P. Z. Brusac. Before and after of the Chapter, Friar Zvonimir accomplished the pastoral visit to the Swedish SFO and he visited the Linköping Fraternity as well as the newly born fraternities of Uppsala/Stockholm and of Jonsered (Göteberg). There is also a fraternity in Umea. The SFO in Sweden has 32 professed members and 6 candidates in formation. There is a great desire and need for formation, the brothers and sisters of the SFO make an effort to communicate with the national fraternity, despite the great distances that separate the fraternities and their members.
Great Britain
Fr Valentín was present and Emanuela presided also at the National
elective Chapter of the SFO in Great Britain, celebrated at Birmingham, from 5
to 7 September. Merle O'Driscoll was reelected National Minister.
Kenya
Friar Ben Brevoort, OFM Cap General Assistant, made some formative trips to Nairobi from October 27 to November 3, 1997.
Slovenia
From November 14 to 16, 1997 the national elective Chapter of the Slovenian Fraternity was celebrated. The Chapter was presided over by Sister Marianne Powell, Counselor to the Presidency, Denmark, with the presence of the General Assistant, Friar Carl Schäfer, OFM. Brother Milan Fras was confirmed as national Minister.
Argentina
The VII National Elective Chapter of the SFO Fraternity in Argentina, which coincided with the XIX annual Chapter of the SFO was celebrated in San Antonio Arredondo (Córdoba) from January 29 to February 1, 1998. The theme of the Chapter was " We Walk in Hope Animated by the spirit of Saint Francis". Between capitulars and observers more than 330 were assembled. Besides the elections the point of the event was to serve as a yearly meeting point for the celebration of a few days of fraternity and reflection as secular Franciscan family. Friar Valentín Redondo, General Assistant OFM Conv and Friar Martín, National Assistant OFM Conv directed the reflection for the capitulars. Friar Pedro Audet National Assistant OFM directed the reflection for the observers. The theme was "The Animating Role of the Holy Spirit in the Secular Franciscan Order." In the Chapter, presided by Brother Rosalvo Mota, Counselor to the Presidency, Brazil, with the presence of Friar Valentín Redondo, Sister Zulema de Alonso was elected national Minister with Brother Miguel Calandriello as vice minister.
November 10-13, 1997 Days of the "tempo forte" for the Conference of the General Assistants were celebrated in Saint Anthony Friary, of the Friar Minors in Arezzo. During those days the program for 1998 was set out in depth: articles from "Koinonia", the Rule of Paul VI, the Unity of the SFO, the Autonomy of the SFO, the Economy of the SFO. A liturgy for the meeting of the Presidency of the CIOFS in January 1998 was prepared and distributed. The first seminars for National Assistants were programmed: for Europe in the Slavic language (February 23 to march 6 in Frascati, Rome, in the Capuchins House of Permanent Formation), for Africa (June 23 to July 6, same location) and for Asia (November 10 to 23, also in Frascati). Preparation for the SFO and JUFRA (Franciscan Youth)’s celebration and festival day (May 30) at the Basilica of the XII Holy Apostles in Rome, on the occasion of the Pope’s meeting with local movements. Initiation of the commemorative and festival year for the twentieth anniversary of the approval of the new Rule by Pope Paul VI. A positive response was given to the invitation to participate in the National Agreement of the Assistants in the US from September 22 to 25, 1998. The naming of the new General Assistant, Friar Nils Thompson, OFM was communicated. December 12: the four General Assistants in the secretariat of the SFO met and programmed the meetings of the Conference of General Assistants (CAS). They also distributed the preparation material for the prayer meetings that are held monthly at the secretariat every second Friday as moments of prayer and exchange of ideas and opinions on issues that make their way to the Center. The cost of residence for the participants at the Frascati seminar was analyzed and the presence at the National Elective Chapters and pastoral visits was updated
Meeting of the CIOFS Presidency
From January 8 to 14, 1998 the Presidency of the CIOFS met at the House of Spiritual Exercises "Our Lady Mother of Mercy", Monte Cucco, Rome. They were days of intense work, dedicated mainly to the study and discussion of the material for the revision of the General Constitutions, elaborated by the commission presided by Francisco Cortés, which was also present. To complete the inroads made in the revision of the Constitutions a new Commission was named with members of the CIOFS, formed by Sisters Emanuela De Nunzio, Minister General, Encarnación del Pozo, Vice Minister and Friar Ben OFM Cap, General Assistant to the SFO. They are to present a draft during the next meeting if the CIOFS Presidency, in the month of June. Also discussed was the preparation of a celebration program commemorating twenty years since the approval of the Rule by Paul VI, the revision of NIFRA (Franciscan Children) material, ecumenism and the inter-religious dialogue, the unification of the Italian SFO, the visits to the Zambian and Kenyan fraternities and the seminar celebrated in Tanzania by Emanuela De Nunzio and Friar Ben, preparation of the seminar in Ukraine. January 12, 1998: the Conference of the National Assistants met in the House of Spiritual Exercises in Monte Cuccio, Rome, ending the meeting of the Presidency of the CIOFS. During this meeting, in which the new General Assistant, Friar Nils Thompson, OFM, was already participating. They evaluated the year 1997 and made a summary of the program of the year that was beginning. The programs of the pastoral visits as well as the presence in national elective chapters were revised. Letters were sent to the national Assistants in Italy and to the regional Assistants and provincial delegates for the SFO of the Conferences of provincial ministers of Italy, inviting each group to a meeting with the Conference of the General Assistants for the SFO, in order to study together the way towards the articulation of a Conference of National Assistants and the timely Conferences of Regional Assistants in Italy.
February 21: the Conference of the General Assistants met at the Capuchin General Curia. Two issues occupied most of their time: detailed treatment of the preparation for the imminent Seminar of the National Assistants of the SFO of the Slavic tongue and preparation of the meeting with the National Assistants of Italy to be celebrated on March 10, and the meeting with the Regional Assistants of Italy and delegates for the Secular Franciscan Order of the conferences of provincial Ministers of Italy, set for March 12.
SEMINAR FOR NATIONAL ASSISTANTS OF THE SLAVIC LANGUAGE
The Seminar for National Assistants of the Slavic language was celebrated at the Capuchin Convent, Frascati, near Rome, from February 23 to March 6. In attendance were thirty four assistants coming from Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Byelorussia, and Russia, as well as one form Lithuania, Letonia, Estonia, and Sweden. The seminar was prepared for all the Franciscan Family of the First Order and the TOR. The official languages were Italian, Polish and Croatian. The Seminar was prepared and guided by the General Assistants of the SFO. The subjects presented were the following: History and Sources of the Secular Franciscan Order (Valentín Redondo, OFM Conv.), General Vision of the SFO (Emanuela De Nunzio, Minister General SFO), Current Eclesiology and the SFO (Zvonimir Brusac, TOR), Secular Franciscan Spirituality (Nils Thompson, OFM), Vision of Assistance to the SFO (Ben Brevoort, OFM Cap), the Secular Franciscan in the Church and Society (Emanuela), Practical Aspects of Spiritual Assistance to the SFO (Ben), Forming Religious to Awareness and Assistance of the SFO (Zvonimir), The SFO and Franciscan Youth - JUFRA (Ben). On Saturday a group of secular Franciscan brothers and sisters from Rome was present for an exchange of opinions and ideas on "what the secular Franciscan expects from the Assistants" and to present the outlook of the SFO in Italy. On Sunday a visit to Assisi was made with the celebration of the Eucharist in the lower Basilica of Saint Francis. Each day, after the speeches there were small group sessions in four groups followed by a final presentation of the conclusions reached in discussion. In the seminar the need for information on the Secular Franciscan Order was confirmed, as well as the need for formation of the Assistants, particularly in those countries where SFO and JUFRA fraternities are being erected. On March 7, the great return home began with an Eucharistic Celebration, for some it began a bit early due to matters related with their visas.
With these pages of "Koinonia" we thank Friar CARL SCHÄFER, OFM, General Assistant for the SFO, we are grateful for his fourteen years of companionship and devotion to the Secular Franciscan Order. We highlight three aspects of his assistance track: his collaboration in the preparation of the Constitutions, the revision of the Statutes of the National Fraternities, and his availability for pastoral visits and presence in National Elective Chapters. Thank you Friar Carl!
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