Formation Friday: Local Formation Directors

Some things to think about when choosing a local formation director or when discerning if you are called to serve as a formator.

“Formation is about relationships—our relationship with God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, with each other, and with all God’s creation. Giving your full attention to others, developing good listening skills, and treating others with loving kindness will enhance Franciscan formation…”  (What is Formation? Anne Mulqueen, OFS)

The ideal OFS Formator should:

·        Be mature; have good judgement; be open to dialogue; possess good communication skills; and be able to convey knowledge well.

·        Possess a good grasp of the Catholic faith and the teachings of the Church.

·        Be a good witness of the Catholic faith

·        Be committed to ongoing conversion; be familiar with Sacred Scripture; be faithful to the Franciscan charism; have good discernment skills.

·      Be thoroughly familiar with our essential governing documents-the Rule, the General Constitutions, the National Statutes, and the OFS Ritual.

·        Be well-versed in the lives of Saints Francis and Clare and live out the Franciscan charism in their daily lives.

 

Formators have a special relationship with those who wish to enter the Order. It is their love and enthusiasm for the Franciscan way of life that will deeply influence how inquirers and candidates become part of the Franciscan family.

Thank you to Anne Mulqueen, OFS, Spiritual Assistant to the National Formation Commission, for allowing us to use material that will be included in our new formation materials.

Resources: The Guidelines for Formation of the OFS, issued by the Presidency of the International Council of the Secular Franciscan Order, Rome 2001, and Guidelines for Initial Formation, SFO, [sic] published by the National Formation Commission, USA in 1985.

 

Questions for discussion or to answer in your journal

+ Think about formators you have known. What were some of their outstanding qualities?

+ Which of the qualities listed above do you possess? Discern if you might be a good formator or member of the team.

+ If your fraternity is about to have an election, which members possess the qualities listed above? Ask if they might accept a nomination to serve.

 

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