MINISTER GENERAL’S REPORT
With an Order that stretches across the globe, it is sometimes difficult to acquire an accurate census of membership. Nevertheless, “we can say that the total number of Secular Franciscans worldwide is more or less 200,000 and Franciscan Youth is around 60,000,” Minister General Tibor Kauser, OFS, told the General Chapter in his status-of-the-order address Nov. 10.
The report covered the three-year period since the last general chapter – an “intense” time implementing a number of priorities identified at the 2021 gathering despite interference by the COVID-19 pandemic, he noted.
Among the accomplishments is the establishment of three permanent secretariats for Formation; Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC); and Communications, thus focusing on expansion of formation materials, guiding fraternities around the world on JPIC themes, and strengthening communication within the Order and to the world at large. There are commissions and work teams tackling other needs of the Order – from financing to vocation tools to Franciscan youth.
On the status of the Order, Tibor noted that the Secular Franciscan Order was present in 115 countries around the world consisting of:
• 70 constituted National Fraternities
• 21 emerging national fraternities
• 20 places in which the OFS is a presence: some local fraternities are in the process of canonical establishment, some are in the initial phase of creating a first local Fraternity.
• four special cases that for various reasons have to be under the direct care of the CIOFS Presidency.
Franciscan Youth, he added, is present in 65 countries. More than 22,000 members are registered in fraternities. Approximately 700 YouFra members are also professed members of the OFS.
“The number of the sisters and brothers in the various fraternities has decreased,” Tibor said. While aging and worldly attractions may be among the causes, “we still have to ask ourselves”: Are we following Christ “in a manner that appeals to others and is attractive in the way that characterised the life of Saint Francis?”
He added: “We must not be discouraged… It is more relevant than ever to maintain clear evangelical values, to have a clear vision of the Gospel way of life, and to use contemporary means and tools to strengthen fraternal bonds… This is our response to the cry of isolated people today who flounder because they lack sure and certain values and seek immediate satisfaction in material goods, and are moving further and further away from the invisible, transcendent and eternal God, who offers us his eternal love and eternal life.”