1. Formation: Everyone’s Responsibility
Diane F. Menditto, OFS, 2018
Thanks to Marie Thomas and Hans Huemmer for inviting me to participate in this weekend.
Having an opportunity to speak to local ministers and local formation directors is not a usual occurrence for me, except, perhaps in my own region. Members of the National Formation commission usually meet with Regional Formation Directors.
In the Initial Formation Syllabus that local formation directors will receive tomorrow, it asks that the topic “What is Formation” be addressed. This is always good for all of us to review periodically—since we are all responsible for helping to form our candidates and for helping to form ourselves through ongoing formation.
So this evening I’d like to get back to basics regarding formation.
Tomorrow the local FDs and I will be working together, sharing information and trying out some new ideas.
They will also be receiving a new regional outline and initial contacts formation handbook—both of which are excellent.

2. Formation: Everyone’s Responsibility
“The Fraternity is the privileged place for developing a sense of Church and the Franciscan family and for enlivening the apostolic life of its members.” (Rule Article 22)
“…the entire community is engaged in this process of growth (formation) by its manner of living.” (Rule Article 23)
Diane F. Menditto, OFS, 2018

3. What is Formation in the OFS?
Take a moment to think-
Come up with one word (not an explanation) of what formation is to you.
Remember: we are talking about initial and ongoing formation
From Guidelines for Initial Formation in the USA
“Formation in and for the Secular Franciscan way of life is understood as the realistic fostering of growth of the individual Secular Franciscan and fraternities so that the way we live in today’s world may conform more and more to the example of the Holy Gospel.”
The GOAL OF ALL FORMATION:
…is a personal union with the Lord Jesus in the tradition and spirituality of the Franciscan Family
Phases of Formation—Keep this in mind when speaking of formation—I will not go into these here, but local formation teams should be well-versed and ready to explain the Pathway to Profession to aspirants.
Initial: ORIENTATION (seekers or aspirants)
INQUIRY Period of discernment—seeking and choosing (Inquirers)
CANDIDACY: period of interiorization and integration (Candidates)
Ongoing: time of daily examination, conversion, maturing and consolidating
Diane F. Menditto, OFS, 2018

4. Integration Assimilation Conversion Growth Transformation
MEANS OF GROWTH: (We Nourish)—we nurture the vocation of our members—both new and long-time. In the case of those aspiring to enter the Order, each step in their growth requires personal and guided discernment of their vocation. When we apply this to ongoing formation, we also benefit from discernment—discussing with the Holy Spirit how strong our vocation is—or if it has become diluted and weak. We are in a constant state of formation as Franciscans.
ASSIMILATION: (We Absorb) through example and sharing of information Secular Franciscans wrap the member in the charism of St. Francis—
sometimes we are the “wrappers” and sometimes we are the “wrapees.” Slowly, the charism is absorbed if the soil of the vocation is fertile (Transfer of culture and values)—
The Formational Component immerses the prospective member into the living community that is the fraternity
INTEGRATION of values: (We enter) (becomes a part of us—becomes automatic)
ONGOING CONVERSION: (We examine) Reminds us that we will not move forward every day. When we slip back, we resolve to do better. We help one another to do this.
TRANSFORMATION: —(We change) the end result of formation should be transformation. The end point of everything we are and do as Secular Franciscans must be to become more like Christ. A means by which we become more like and closer to Christ
The Transformational Component supplies the bedrock of our vocation. Here we examine our relationship with God and how this becomes the alpha and omega of our Franciscan life.
It answers the question: How does my relationship with God impact my life and my relationship with others
Again: The GOAL OF ALL FORMATION Is a personal union with the Lord Jesus in the tradition and spirituality of the Franciscan Family.
Growth
Transformation
Diane F. Menditto, OFS, 2018
Refer to the Guidelines for Initial Formation in the Secular Franciscan Order in the United States.

5. Formation means that we…
ASSIST
FOSTER
FACILITATE
DISCERN
Diane F. Menditto, OFS, 2018
Helping the member on his/her way toward the full realization of his/her own human and Christian development
Fostering the person’s maturation of faith which will bring him/her to personal union with the Father in Christ the Lord through the Holy Spirit
Facilitating his/her experience of Church within a community of faith and love. While at the same time remaining faithful to the conditions of his/her secular state in life, and of his/her mission in the world and in the Church
DISCERNMENT—We discern for ourselves and for the fraternity and help others to discern.
Refer to the Guidelines for Initial Formation in the Secular Franciscan Order in the United States.

6. Formation must be… Active Communal Christ/Gospel centered Ecclesial
Secular
Franciscan
Joyful
Imbued with simplicity
Open-ended
Diane F. Menditto, OFS, 2018
ACTIVE: Drawn from life experiences: Gospel to life and life to the Gospel (article 4)
COMMUNAL: Fraternity is an effective agent of formation. Interactive relationships (Franciscan personality and character) (Article 13)
CHRIST/GOSPEL CENTERED: Observe the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ (Rule 4; 5; 7) Gospel to life and life to the gospel.
ECCLESIAL: Vision of the Church as dynamic—presents the Church as the people of God (Rule #1)
SECULAR: we are exhorted to develop a lay-secular spirituality—We live in the world and carry out the business of the world in the ordinary circumstances of social and family life. Personal reflection and or critique of the candidate’s life situation in light of the gospel (Article 1, Artciel 8, Article 10, Article 19,
FRANCISCAN: Must reinforce the basic value system of a Franciscan style of Gospel living (Article 6, Article 7
JOYFUL: Articles 13, 17 and 19—be thankful and you will find authentic joy and real hope—the fruits of the Holy Spirit* (Rejoice and be glad—Apostolic Exhortation)
SIMPLICITY: Detachment and simplicity—Article 11, 12)
OPEN-ENDED: Articles 13, 14 and 17 Formation is a process that never ends. Dissolves self-centeredness
*Joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Refer to the Guidelines for Initial Formation in the Secular Franciscan Order in the United States.

7. Who is responsible for formation?
Diane F. Menditto, OFS, 2018

8. The Agents of Formation
The Holy Spirit
The Candidate/Professed member
The Fraternity
The Fraternity Council
The Formation Director and Team
The Spiritual Assistant
The Sponsor
Higher Levels Of Fraternity
HOLY SPIRIT: The Spirit calls us to our vocation—He is the primary agent of Formation Candidate must be open to the Spirit; this is a big part of his/her discernment process—prayer and listening to the promptings of the Spirit The rest of the fraternity must also follow the Spirit is the discernment of whether the candidate has chosen the right path.
THE CANDIDATE/PROFESSED MEMBER: bears primary responsibility for his/her own spiritual growth; shares and interacts in the formation process
Formation is the development of the total human personality—self formation is primary in adults
The candidate brings his/her talents, gifts and abilities to the fraternity
THE FRATERNITY: has a special place—Rule 23-”the entire community is engaged in this process of growth by its own manner of living.”
Shared life
Personal interaction (primary reference group)
Sharing of lived experiences in the Franciscan way of life
The continuous ongoing formation process of ALL MEMBERS
Fraternity prayer life
Sharing in the fraternity ministries/apostolates
The fraternity is successful in this when: they are a warm family unit; ecclesial community—prayerful, joyful, imbued with the Holy Spirit, exemplifies the Franciscan charism and traditions, a community striving to be transformed.
THE FRATERNITY COUNCIL:
Discernment of the possible vocation and the ability to make a permanent commitment
Adopts general guidelines for initial formation and Ongoing Formation for all members
Engages in a continual process of evaluation of the Formation Program—this is applicable to the Ongoing Formation program
THE FORMATION DIRECTOR AND TEAM
Crucial in the life of the Fraternity
Catalysts/facilitators to move the candidates toward their personal choice of permanent commitment
The Council should choose the team with care seeing to it that they exemplify Franciscan values
The Council should collaborate with the team and with the Spiritual Assistant in both the INITIAL AND ONGOING FORMATION programs
THE SPONSOR:
Professed member who walks with the candidate through the studies and activities during Candidacy
HIGHER LEVELS:
Provide guidelines and suggest styles and techniques (exactly what we are doing this weekend!)
The Constitutions also suggest formation classes in common with other fraternities in the area—perhaps by district or cluster
It is to be reinforced, however, that the candidate must always be an active member of the local fratern
Diane F. Menditto, OFS, 2018
Refer to the Guidelines for Initial Formation in the Secular Franciscan Order in the United States.

9. Wrap-up Questions
How is your local council presently involved in initial and ongoing formation?
What are some ways you (Ministers and local Formation Directors) can encourage your local councils to be more involved in both initial and ongoing formation?
In what ways does the Regional Executive Council provide formation for the Regional Fraternity?
Diane F. Menditto, OFS, 2018

10. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!
Guidelines for Initial Formation in the Secular Franciscan Order in the United States, Lindsborg, KS: Smoky Valley Printing., 2005)
Updated formation Resource Manual (NAFRA)
Guidelines for Formation of the SFO Benedetto Lino, OFS (CIOFS-2001)
Diane F. Menditto, OFS, 2018