1. 1 Place of the Sponsor February 15, 2014

2. 2 Spons or as an Agent of Formation Three Components of Formation: 1. Informational: –Supplies basic information to make an informed decision. –What do I need to know?

3. 3 Spons or as an Agent of Formation Three Components of Formation: 2. Formational: –Immerses the prospective member into the living community (fraternity). –How do I live in community? –All that enables a fraternity to BE and DO. See Article 22 and 23 of our Rule.

4. Articles 22 of the Rule The local fraternity is to be canonically established. It becomes the basic unit of the whole Order and a visible sign of the Church, the community of love. This should be the privileged place for developing a sense of Church and the Franciscan vocation and for enlivening the apostolic life of its members. 4

5. Articles 23 of the Rule …( joining the OFS ) Admission into the Order is gradually attained through a period of initiation, a period of formation … The entire community is engaged in the process of growth by its manner of living. … 5

6. 6 Spons or as an Agent of Formation Three Components of Formation: 3. Transformational: –Supplies the bedrock of our vocation. Our relationship with God and living our Franciscan life. –How does my relationship with God impact my life and my relationship with others?

7. 7 Two On A Journey From the Gospel: –Jesus sending out the disciples two by two. What they shared! From St. Francis : –Sent out the friars in pairs. What they shared! Today : –Candidate and Sponsor. This role is alive and active in the OFS today.

8. 8 Two On A Journey (Cont.) Sharing: –Prayer, scripture, creation, their lives, seeking each other’s advice, praising God, Benefits of sharing: –Helped the brothers grow in vocation, form greater bonds of support between them and stronger bonds of unity in the community

9. 9 What is a Sponsor? A journey companion Sharing: Prayer, scripture, nature and God’s presence, leisure time, how they came to this vocation, the teachings of this way of life, their mission and projects, and the movement of the Holy Spirit in their own lives.

10. 10 What is a Sponsor? (Cont.) A journey companion A time of opening up to God within and God they discovered outside of themselves, Share how this call to live the Gospel life in the example of St. Francis is exploding in their very being.

11. 11 Qualifications to be a Sponsor A love of your Secular Franciscan vocation and a desire to share it A willingness to be open to the Holy Spirit and to another A desire to share God’s goodness in your life with another An openness to share your understanding and love of Sts. Francis and Clare

12. 12 Qualifications to be a Sponsor A listening heart A prayerful spirit A sense of nurture for another’s vocation A lived experience of Scripture A call to service An appreciation of creation Any similarity to the characteristics of a OFS?

13. 13 Coupling Sponsor & Candidate Interaction is key: –Recommend Sponsor approach Candidate Share: –Your introduction to the OFS –Other aspects of your life Be open to each other and the Holy Spirit: –Be honest and genuine

14. 14 Summary Companions on the Journey: A tradition that goes back to the beginnings of the Order of Friars Minor; A tradition that is rooted in the ministry of Jesus’ earliest disciples; A tradition that enriches all who partake in it.

15. 15 Summary (Cont.) A Sponsor is actively engaged in the formation process. You journey with another, following our Lord Jesus Christ in the example set forth by St. Francis himself

16. 16 Questions 1. Discuss how and how often should sponsor and candidate get together in different situations. 2.In what ways can the sponsor support the candidate.