Minister's Message - The Angelus - September 2016 - StMaryOfTheAngels

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Minister's Message - The Angelus - September 2016

The Angelus

One in Charity

On various levels, each fraternity is animated and guided by a council and minister who are elected by the professed according to the constitutions.

Their service, which lasts for a definite period, is marked by a ready and willing spirit and is a duty of responsibility to each member and to the community.

Within themselves the fraternities are structured in different ways according to the norm of the constitutions, according to the various needs of their members and their regions, and under the guidance of their respective council.

Rule of the OFS, Article 21

The office of minister or councilor is a fraternal service, a commitment to hold oneself available and responsible in relation to each brother and sister and to the fraternity so that each one will realize his or her own vocation and each fraternity will be a true community, ecclesial and Franciscan, actively present in the Church and in society.

General Constitutions, Article 31: 2

We have already reflected on “One in Charity” as calling us to reach out to others in love, placing others ahead of ourselves. We have started one project, Prayer Partners, to begin this. Those present at the August gathering each had the opportunity to select a prayer partner, who would be the recipient of that person’s special prayers over the month. This is also an opportunity to contact that person and get to know him or her better. We are open to your ideas of how we might grow in our efforts to be “One in Charity.”

Being a council member might be such an opportunity for you. Note that our Rule calls this a “service.” The General Constitutions call it a “fraternal service” and “a commitment to hold oneself available and responsible in relation to each brother and sister and to the fraternity…” What is the goal of this service? “[T]hat each one (fraternity members) will realize his or her own vocation and each fraternity will be a true community, ecclesial and Franciscan, actively present in the Church and in society.”

This is what it means to be a councilor. Each office has its duties, but all the officers share this first duty of service for the growth of the members and the group. Consider this now, as you respond to your possible call to accept nomination. And consider it as you plan for further nominations at the Chapter of Elections in November. Who among us can provide this service? Who of us is willing to provide this service?

Peace!

Tom