Symbol of Our Lady of Indiana SFO Regional Fraternity

Secular Franciscan Order

Our Lady of Indiana Regional Fraternity

Local Minister's Orientation upon Election

Congratulations! You have just been elected (or re-elected) to serve your brother and sister Franciscans in a very special way!

It is our responsibility to help you through this unfamiliar time of transition. According to the General Constitutions, especially Article 62e & 62f:

"The regional council has the following duties (among 11 listed): ...

62e to provide for the formation of those responsible for animation;
62f to offer to local fraternities activities which support their formation and operative needs;

We presume the local minister has the following texts and will pass them on to you:

Handbook for SFO Servant Leadership

Available through Regional Resources or Barbo-Carlson (see TAU-USA)

1978 SFO Rule

Available at www.nafra-sfo.org or through Regional Resources

2001 SFO General Constitutions

Available at www.nafra-sfo.org

2003 National Statutes

Available at www.nafra-sfo.org

Handbook for Spiritual Assistance to the SFO

One copy was given to each fraternity; available through Barbo-Carlson; see TAU-USA

Regional Directory with Regional Guidelines

One copy is given to each minister at Chapter of Mats, or mailed if they do not attend.

Guidelines also available at www.olisfo.cqc.com

Your fraternity's Initial Formation books

Please review the following monthly assignments and discuss it with your council when you meet:

1st month after election

Read and review SFO General Constitutions, Articles 49-54

Review the questions

2nd month after election

Read the Regional Guidelines (in Regional Directory) and Handbook for Servant Leadership

Review the topics discussed there

3rd month after election

Review concerns of SFO formation, initial and ongoing. Consult and read the following:

Handbook for Spiritual Assistance to the SFO, pg 170 & 172

SFO General Constitutions Articles 12, 40.2 and 30-34

Reflective Questions for Newly Elected Ministers:

1st Month  Read and review SFO General Constitutions, Articles 49-54

  1. Art 50    Does our council attend to each of these eight (8) duties? Which ones need more attention?
  2. Art 51.1  How do you describe the difference of the respective roles of the COUNCIL and the MINISTER? How are they related? Does our fraternity follow this plan?
  3. Art 51.2  What are the differences between a pastoral and a fraternal visitation?

    How do you go about asking for a pastoral visitation? How often? When was your last one?

    How do you go about asking for a fraternal visitation? How often? When was your last one?

  4. Art 52    Do the officers in your fraternity know their respective duties?

    Do you, as minister, have them report on their duties at your regular monthly council meetings?

    What is the difference of emphasis between Article 53.1 and Article 53.2?

    Review the topics discussed here with your council.

2nd Month  Read the Regional Guidelines (in Regional Directory) and Handbook for Servant Leadership

  1. Which topics in the Handbook for SFO Servant Leadership should our council review? (Plan to cover these topics in the course of the next year.)
  2. What are the four key elements of a fraternity meeting? (Handbook for Spiritual Assistance, page 172)
  3. Sketch a timeline for your usual/regular fraternity meeting. How much time is allotted to each of your four key elements at your monthly meetings? Should we change some of our timeline in our meetings? Why?
  4. How do the SFO "Commissions" fit into your local fraternity life?
  5. What regional guidelines should we be more attentive to in our fraternity?
  6. Review the topics discussed here with your council.

3rd MonthReview concerns of SFO formation, initial and ongoing. Consult and read the following:

Handbook for Spiritual Assistance to the SFO, pg. 170 & 172

SFO General Constitutions Articles 12, 40.2 and 30-34

  1. How do you handle the leadership for your formation team? Initial? Ongoing? Do we have an effective procedure?
  2. How much time do we devote to formation at our regular monthly meetings?
  3. Do we presume too much about what the members are reviewing on their own?
  4. Should our regular fraternity meeting be helping them grow through what we deal with?
  5. Are we expected to help them develop their Franciscan spirituality? Do we do this?
  6. Do we as council use the secret ballot for approving a candidate for profession?
  7. Do we consult the fraternity formation person and the spiritual assistant before voting on accepting a candidate?
  8. Review the topics discussed here with your council.

Fr. John Sullivan, OFM - Sacred Heart Provincial Spiritual Assistant -
New Minister Orientation