The Welcoming Ceremony Rituals Rules associated with Initial Formation. Secular Franciscan Order Christine Blood, OFS Step 1: Share with the Inquirer First, it is very important to share news that the Welcoming Ceremony will take place
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Presentation Transcript
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The Welcoming Ceremony Rituals & Rules associated with Initial Formation.
Secular Franciscan Order
Christine Blood, OFS<br>
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Step 1: Share with the Inquirer First, it is very important to share news that the Welcoming Ceremony will take place with the Inquirer PRIOR to him/her being welcomed into the fraternity. The formator, along with the minister, should go over the ceremony with the Inquirer, answering any questions the Inquirer may have in preparation to taking the first step on the Secular Franciscan path.
Being transparent with the Inquirer helps him/her to become more comfortable with the full fraternity setting and reinforces to the Inquirer a very warm and inviting setting moving forward.<br>
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Step 2: Assign a Sponsor Prior to the Welcoming Ceremony, it is recommended that the Inquirer be assigned a person who will be his/her sponsor during the remainder of formation to Profession. The sponsor supports, encourages, and is an additional resource for guidance and understanding for the Inquirer. It is like a mentor role.
The council discusses and votes on the professed, active member of the fraternity to be the sponsor. Upon a consensus, the minister or formation director will either call that person for his/her approval to being the sponsor for the new Inquirer.<br>
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Step 3: Inquirer/Sponsor Update Part of that transparency is sending a written letter to the Inquirer welcoming that person (prior to the ceremony) to the fraternity. The letter is warm and inviting and includes the contact information of the sponsor.
The role of the sponsor is explained to the Inquirer and contact information for both is shared between them.
Here’s an example of one I wrote when I was minister of my fraternity….<br>
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Step 4: Welcoming Ceremony At the subsequent fraternity meeting following the assignment of the sponsor, the Inquirer is officially welcomed into the fraternity. It is suggested that the formation director introduces the inquirer to the fraternity, giving a brief introduction of him/her.
After that, the ceremony begins as written in the ritual. Careful, slow and deliberate delivery of the words will bring the ceremony to its rightful place – as the beginning of the formal formation of the Inquirer and the first official introduction of the inquirer to the entire fraternity.<br>
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Step 5: Welcoming Ceremony This is not a liturgical rite as much as it is the fraternity’s expression of hospitality or cordiality. Hence, the ceremony should not take place during the community’s time for liturgy or prayer, but rather during the ‘chapter’ or ‘renewal of life’ portion of the regular meeting when the ongoing formation and socializing occur.
The ceremony is to be kept as SIMPLE as possible. As mentioned, it should begin with a small introduction of the Inquirer to the fraternity by the formation director.
The Inquirer, along with the formation director, sponsor and minister all stand. The formation director says:
“May I introduce ________________, who is from _____________ and who has expressed an interest in our Franciscan way of life. He/she is single/married, (children.. ) retired/works at __________ and his/her parish is _________________.”<br>
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Step 6: Welcoming Ceremony After the introduction, the Inquirer responds, “I have come to see in your Franciscan life a way that appeals to me. So, I would like to inquire into that way and learn more about it. Perhaps in time I, by the grace of God, may be able to become part of the Secular Franciscan order and thus come to serve the Lord and his people more faithfully”.
The minister responds, “On behalf of this fraternity, I warmly welcome you, and I note your desire to inquire into the Secular Franciscan way of life. Be assured that in your search you will have the support and the encouragement of our prayers, our formation, our example and the support from your sponsor. And always keep in mind the words of St. Francis to Brother Leo: ‘In whatever you think will best please our Lord God and follow in his footsteps and in poverty, take that way with the Lord God’s blessing.’”<br>
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Step 7: Welcoming Ceremony The ceremony concludes with a prayer offered by the spiritual assistant or by one of the secular members of the fraternity. The prayer may be taken from a liturgical text or from the writings of St. Francis. Here is a model for that prayer:
“O Lord, Our God, you have shown us your wisdom and love, and you have called us to follow you. May the person here present inquiring into the Secular Franciscan Order be inspired and strengthened by your grace and support of this community. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.”<br>
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Step 8: After the Welcoming Ceremony After the final prayer, the whole community expresses its sentiments in a customary fashion- this is usually done by a very warm applause.
Conclusion: The ceremony is an excellent opportunity for the Inquirer to talk and get to know others in the fraternity, especially the minister. It’s presence in our ritual is deliberate as it gives the entire fraternity a chance to learn about the Inquirer, to reach out and welcome the Inquirer and to let the Inquirer know how important the formation process is.
The purpose is to hear the Inquirer’s intention to study and learn our way while the fraternity learns more about the Inquirer, receiving that person into the fold with a warm and vibrant “HELLO, WELCOME, WE LOVE THAT YOU ARE HERE!”.<br>
