XII.
THE ROLE OF THE SPIRITUAL ASSISTANT
IN THE FORMATION TEAM
"to live in life-giving reciprocal communion with all the members
of the Franciscan family" (SFO Constitutions 98.1)
Fr. Patrick Colbourne OFMCap., National Assistant SFO-Oceania
* The Agents of Formation - The Holy Spirit, the individuals themselves, the
fraternity, designated persons, i.e., the Master of Formation, who is a delegate
of the fraternity council, and the Spiritual Assistant, who is a delegate of the
religious major superior.
* SFO Constitutions - 40 deals with the time, content, place and style of
initial formation; 44 deals with continuing formation; 52.3 deals with the
Master of Formation. Title V deals with spiritual and pastoral assistance to the
SFO, and, while it generally covers legal matters, it indicates that, "By virtue
of the vital reciprocity between the religious and the secular members of the
Franciscan Family and in regard to the responsibilities of major superiors,
spiritual assistance to the fraternities of the SFO at all levels must be
assured as a fundamental element of communion" (89.1).
* Whereas there is no specific mention of what in religious orders is called
integral formation, i.e., the formation of the whole person in the total journey
of human and spiritual development, the SFO legislation places importance on the
fraternity as a contributor to formation. "Participation in the meetings of the
local fraternity is an indispensable presupposition for initiation into
community prayer and into fraternity life" (40.3).
* When speaking of the role of the "Master of Formation", the Constitutions
refer to initial formation of candidates or support for the newly professed, and
so do not define precisely who is responsible for continuing formation or what
is the role of formators at the regional or national level.
* While it is clear that the altius moderamen involves caring of
fidelity to the authenticity of doctrines of the faith and of the Franciscan
charism, there is still a wide field for transmitting the concrete experience of
Franciscan spirituality as it is lived in a secular context. The most effective
example of such a life can only be given by a Secular Franciscan.
* In any formation initiative, the Spiritual Assistant and the formation
delegate of the fraternity council need to operate in tandem if their efforts
are to be successful. Those being formed should freely address their questions
or inquiries to either one without any fear that either would take offense.
* On the other hand, neither one of these should monopolise formation
sessions. Both need to remember that the fraternity and the fraternity council
rank ahead of them in the list of agents of formation.
* It is perhaps in this area where communion between the various members of
the Franciscan Family is best exemplified.