Thursday, November 22, 2012

II International Congress of Amigonian Pedagogy


Anticipating the dreams of youth for change. With this statement the II International Congress of Amigonian Pedagogy was concluded, on Saturday 17, 2012 held at the Bancaja Cultural Centre in the city of Valencia, Spain. It was participated by teachers, religious educators from over twenty countries in America, Europe and Africa and according to the organizers, more than 5,000 were connected to the congress in 'streaming'.

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Saint Pedro Calungsod


The Life and Glorification of Pedro Calungsod

by Msgr. Ildebrando Jesus Aliño Leyson (http://www.pedrocalungsod.org/index.php/life/56)



Pedro Calungsod was a teenage native of the Visayas region of the Philippines. Very little is known about him. We do not even know where exactly in the Visayas he came from or who his parents were. He was just one of the boy catechists who went with some Spanish Jesuit missionaries from the Philippines to the Ladrones Islands in the western North Pacific Ocean in 1668 to evangelize the Chamorros. In that century, the Jesuits in the Philippines used to train and employ young boys as competent catechists and versatile assistants in their missions. The Ladrones at that time was part of the old Diocese of Cebu.

Life in the Ladrones was hard. The provisions for the Mission did not arrive regularly; the jungles were too thick to cross; the cliffs were very steep to climb, and the islands were frequently visited by devastating typhoons. Despite the hardships, the missionaries persevered, and the Mission was blessed with many conversions. The first mission residence and church were built in the town of Hagåtña [Agadña; Agaña; Agana] in the island of Guam. Subsequently, the islands were renamed “Marianas” by the missionaries in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary and of the then queen regent of Spain, Maria Ana, who was the benefactress of that Mission.

But very soon, a Chinese quack, named Choco, envious of the prestige that the missionaries were gaining among the Chamorros, started to spread the talk that the baptismal water of the missionaries was poisonous. And since some sickly Chamorro infants who were baptized died, many believed the calumniator and eventually apostatized. The evil campaign of Choco was readily supported by the Macanjas who were superstitious local herbal medicine men, and by the Urritaos, the young native men who were given into some immoral practices. These, along with the apostates, began to persecute the missionaries, many of whom were killed.

The most unforgettable assault happened on 2 April 1672, the Saturday just before the Passion Sunday of that year. At around seven o’clock in the morning, Pedro – by then already about seventeen years old, as can be gleaned from the written testimonies of his companion missionaries – and the superior of the Mission, named Padre Diego Luís de San Vitores, came to the village of Tomhom [Tumhon; Tumon], in Guam. There, they were told that a baby girl was recently born in the village; so they went to ask the child’s father, named Matapang, to bring out the infant for baptism. Matapang was a Christian and a friend of the missionaries, but having apostatized, he angrily refused to have his baby christened.

To give Matapang some time to cool down, Padre Diego and Pedro gathered the children and some adults of the village at the nearby shore and started chanting with them the truths of the Catholic Faith. They invited Matapang to join them, but the apostate shouted back that he was angry with God and was already fed up with the Christian teachings.

Determined to kill the missionaries, Matapang went away and tried to enlist in his cause another villager, named Hirao, who was not a Christian. At first, Hirao refused, mindful of the kindness of the missionaries towards the natives; but, when Matapang branded him a coward, he got piqued and so he consented. Meanwhile, during that brief absence of Matapang from his hut, Padre Diego and Pedro took the chance of baptizing the infant with the consent of the Christian mother.

When Matapang learned of the baptism, he became even more furious. He violently hurled spears first at Pedro. The lad skirted the darting spears with remarkable dexterity. Witnesses said that Pedro had all the chances to escape because he was very agile, but he did not want to leave Padre Diego alone. Those who personally knew Pedro believed that he would have defeated his fierce aggressors and would have freed both himself and Padre Diego if only he had some weapon because he was a valiant boy; but Padre Diego never allowed his companions to carry arms. Finally, Pedro got hit by a spear at the chest and he fell to the ground. Hirao immediately charged towards him and finished him off with a blow of a cutlass on the head. Padre Diego could not do anything except to raise a crucifix and give Pedro the final sacramental absolution. After that, the assassins also killed Padre Diego.

Matapang took the crucifix of Padre Diego and pounded it with a stone while blaspheming God. Then, both assassins denuded the bodies of Pedro and Padre Diego, dragged them to the edge of the shore, tied large stones to their feet, brought them on a proa to sea and threw them into the deep. Those remains of the martyrs were never to be found again.

When the companion missionaries of Pedro learned of his death, they exclaimed, “Fortunate youth! How well rewarded his four years of persevering service to God in the difficult Mission are; he has become the precursor of our superior, Padre Diego, in Heaven!” They remembered Pedro to be a boy with a very good disposition, a virtuous catechist, a faithful assistant, a good Catholic whose perseverance in the Faith even to the point of martyrdom proved him to be a good soldier of Christ. “Martyrdom is the supreme witness given to the truth of the faith: it means bearing witness even unto death. The martyr bears witness to Christ who died and rose, to whom he is united by charity. He bears witness to the truth of the faith and of Christian doctrine. He endures death through an act of fortitude.” – Catechism of the Catholic Church n. 2473

The Mariana Mission continued amid turmoil. Meanwhile, the surviving Jesuit missionaries managed to start the process for the beatification of their Mission superior Padre Diego on 9 January 1673. Beatification is the act by which the Church, through papal decree, permits a specified diocese, region, nation, or religious institute to honor with public cult under the title “Blessed” a Christian person who has died with a reputation for holiness. Written testimonies of the missionaries and of the Mariana natives were gathered to document the martyrdom of Padre Diego. Naturally, the documentation could not but mention also his lone companion in martyrdom, the boy from the Visayas, Pedro Calungsod. However, due to the difficult situation at that time and the eventual suppression of the Jesuits in the 18th century, the cause for the beatification of Padre Diego fell into oblivion and, together with it, the memory of Pedro which went hidden for centuries in the long-forgotten manuscripts of his companion missionaries.

But the Faith that was planted in the Marianas in 1668 did not die with Padre Diego, Pedro and the first missionaries. It remained. It survived. It grew, thanks to the blood of the martyrs and the perseverance of the succeeding missionaries. On 17 September 1902, the Marianas became an Apostolic Prefecture and was separated from the old Diocese of Cebu. On 14 October 1965, Guam became a diocese by the name of “Diocese of Agaña”. On 8 March 1984, Agaña became an archdiocese.

In 1981, when Agaña was preparing for its 20th anniversary as a diocese, the 1673 beatification cause of Padre Diego Luís de San Vitores was rediscovered in the old manuscripts and taken up anew until Padre Diego was finally beatified on 6 October 1985. It was his beatification that brought the memory of Pedro to our day.

The Archdiocese of Cebu, where Pedro belonged by ecclesiastical jurisdiction, also started to process his beatification cause in 1994. The endeavor was rewarded when, on 5 March 2000, Pedro Calungsod was beatified by Pope John Paul II at Saint Peter’s Square in Rome. In his homily during the beatification, the Pope said, “From his childhood, Pedro Calungsod declared himself unwaveringly for Christ and responded generously to his call. Young people today can draw encouragement and strength from the example of Pedro, whose love of Jesus inspired him to devote his teenage years to teaching the faith as a lay catechist. Leaving family and friends behind, Pedro willingly accepted the challenge put to him by Fr. Diego Luís de San Vitores to join him on the Mission to the Chamorros. In a spirit of faith, marked by strong Eucharistic and Marian devotion, Pedro undertook the demanding work asked of him and bravely faced the many obstacles and difficulties he met. In the face of imminent danger, Pedro would not forsake Fr. Diego but, as a ‘good soldier of Christ’, preferred to die at the missionary’s side. Today, Blessed Pedro Calungsod intercedes for the young, in particular those of his native Philippines, and he challenges them. Young friends, do not hesitate to follow the example of Pedro, who ‘pleased God and was loved by him’ and who, having come to perfection in so short a time, lived a full life.” The feast of Blessed Pedro is celebrated every 2 April, the anniversary of his martyrdom. If the date falls within Holy Week or Easter Week, the feast is observed on the Saturday before Passion Sunday as was 2 April in 1672.

On 21 October 2012, Pope Benedict XVI, in a solemn ceremony at Saint Peter’s Basilica, will inscribe the name of Blessed Pedro Calungsod in the Canon or list of Saints and from then on, the teenage Visayan martyr will be invoked as Saint Pedro Calungsod or San Pedro Calungsod. “By canonizing some of the faithful, i.e., by solemnly proclaiming that they practiced heroic virtue and lived in fidelity to God’s grace, the Church recognizes the power of the Spirit of holiness within her and sustains the hope of believers by proposing the saints to them as models and intercessors. The saints have always been the source and origin of renewal in the most difficult moments in the Church’s history. Indeed, holiness is the hidden source and infallible measure of her apostolic activity and missionary zeal.” – Catechism of the Catholic Church n. 828. A more detailed account on Blessed Pedro Calungsod is provided in the manual I. Leyson, Pedro Calonsor Bissaya: Prospects of a Teenage Filippino, The Archdiocese of Cebu, 2000.


Year of Faith


"The 'door of faith' (Acts14:27) is always open for us, ushering us into the life of communion with God and offering entry into his Church."
 
---Pope Benedict XVI, Apostolic Letter Porta Fidei for the Indiction of the Year of Faith



Pope Benedict XVI has announced a Year of Faith that runs from October 11th, 2012 to November 24th, 2013.
This move is related to two anniversaries. One is the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council and the other the 20th anniversary of the publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. There is also a major event related to the Year of faith which is the Synod of Bishops on the theme ‘The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian faith.’

Porta Fidei (The Door of Faith)

The Pope has issued an Apostolic Letter proclaiming the Year of faith titled, ‘Porta Fidei’ or ‘The door of faith.’ He uses the ‘door’ as an image of faith. Paul and Barnabas, returning after their missionary journey to different lands, sailed back to Antioch. ‘When they arrived they called the Churches together and related all that God has done with them and how he opened a door of faith to the Gentiles’ (Acts 14:27).
The door ‘is always open for us.’ It welcomes us into a communion with God and offers entry into his Church. There are two essential elements that makes possible the entry through this door namely proclamation of the Word of God and allowing the same word to shaping the heart with its transforming grace. Entering this door is a life long journey that begins with our baptism and continues till death to eternal life.

Know the Faith

The document gives beautiful reflections on the theme of faith. Faith is choosing to stand with the Lord so as to live with him. ‘Standing with the Lord’ would signify understanding the reasons for believing. We must know the contents of faith. Knowing well what exactly is to be believed is essential for giving one’s own assent that is to say for adhering fully with the intellect and will to what the Church proposes.
‘Knowledge of faith opens a door into the fullness of the saving mystery revealed by God.’ Believing means, ‘we accept the whole mystery of faith.’ Both our intellect and will must make its choice to believe only then can we feel comfortable to remain with the Lord.

The acceptance of faith

Focusing on Jesus is essential to lead a life of true Christian faith. Jesus attracts to himself people of every generation. It clearly states that ‘The Year of Faith… is a summons to an authentic and renewed conversion to the Lord the Saviour of the world.’ He is the ‘pioneer and perfecter of our faith (Heb. 12:2). The reasons for keeping our gaze fixed on Jesus Christ and contemplating in his Incarnation, death and Resurrection are:
a) In him all the anguish and all the longing of human finds fulfillment
b) Fulfills the joy of love
c) Gives answer to the drama of suffering and pain
d) The power of forgiveness in the face of offense received
e) The victory of life over emptiness of death
f) The examples of faith that has marked the two thousand years of our salvation history are brought to the fullness of light.
The document tells us that By faith, we too live. It is the living recognition of the Lord Jesus. There are people who are born and brought up as Christians but are totally ignorant of the person of Christ. The life, works and message of Christ are alien to them. This year of faith calls every Christian to recognize this Christ ‘present in our lives and in our history.’
St. Augustine is given as one of the bright examples of this journey of faith. The pope tells that ‘his life was a continual search for the beauty of the faith until such thing as his heart could find rest in God.’ His extensive writings still help people to find the right path towards the ‘door of faith.’ This year of faith must turn out to be an occasion during which the entire Church may undertake a renewed outlook on the faith by a deeper study of the Christian Doctrine and delve deeper into the mystery of Christ.
- – - written by Fr. Freddie Pereira SDB (http://www.turnbacktogod.com/the-year-of-faith/)

 

Bro. Demars Hengoni's Perpetual Profession

"Let us, therefore, have charity and humility and give alms because it washes the stains of our sins from our clothes. For people lose everything they leave behind in this world; but they carry with them the rewards of charity and the alms which they gave, for which they will have a reward and a just retribution from the Lord." (St. Francis of Assisi)

October 04, 2012 Feast of St. Francis of Assisi and Perpetual profession of Bro. Demars Hengoni, TC

Fr. John Jayoma as a new Parish Priest of MDP


“I am the good shepherd, 
and know my sheep, 
and am known of mine.John  14








We share in the universal mission of the church with the specific character transmitted by our founder: re-education of youth.












Living the spirituality and mission of our congregation, offers us an environment conducive to the integral development of our person in Christ, as well as tested instruction for advancing in a joyful spirit along the road of charity

Friday, July 13, 2012

Tertiary Capuchins (Amigonian Fathers)


Our mission is basically directed towards all youths who, in one way or another, have lost the true path of life; those stricken by loneliness and those addicted to drugs and vices; the ignorant and the outcasts who experience rejection from the mainstream of our society; those who need love, acceptance and understanding, guidance, forgiveness and redemption, so that they may feel themselves loved and so lift up their minds and open their hearts to a new light and hope.



 ... “It is God, for His own loving purpose, who puts both the will and the action into you.” Phil. 2:13
     So indeed, the Lord, having called Father Luis Amigó to continue His mission of love and redemption in the world, gave him the power to carry it out as His instrument. This charismatic quality was manifested in his spirituality which we call “Amigonian,” derived from the founder’s family, or surname, “Amigó.”
  The essence of that spirituality is synthesized tri-dimensionally as Christocentric, Marian, and Franciscan. The synthesis, though somewhat complex, is best understood by a careful study of each dimension.

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Tertiary Capuchins (Amigonian Fathers) Website


If you want to know more about our Congregation, visit this website:






We share in the universal mission of the church with the specific character transmitted by our founder: re-education of youth. This is our charism. Our founder has this to say:
“You my beloved children constituted by Jesus little shepherds of His flock, are the ones to go after the lost sheep, until you bring them back to the flock of the Good Shepherd”

Our Founder "Ven. Luis Amigò"
 Living the spirituality and mission of our congregation, offers us an environment conducive to the integral development of our person in Christ, as well as tested instruction for advancing in a joyful spirit along the road of charity.

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Vocation




our invitation for you...







Facebook:


https://www.facebook.com/groups/152224798229662/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Religious-Tertiary-Capuchins-of-Our-Lady-of-Sorrows-Amigonian-Fathers/181379001928876

Amigonian Cooperators



The Amigonian Cooperators was instituted by the Capuchin Tertiaries (Amigonian Fathers). Their work among the laity following the charism of the Capuchin Bishop Luis Amigo y Ferrer (1854-1934) dates back to 1937. 


On Dec. 8, 1992, the Pontifical Council for the Laity decreed recognition of the Amigonian Cooperators as an international association of the faithful of pontifical right. 



Identity: The identity of the Amigonian Cooperators, set out in the "Life Project," takes the form of a commitment to the rehabilitation of children in conflict with the law and the courts, and care for young people with deviant attitudes and who are in a state of material and moral poverty. 



The supreme model for the way they live and act is Jesus, the good Shepherd, who knows and loves all of his sheep. They learn from Our Lady of Sorrows, who understands and reaches out to all those who suffer, to understand and to reach out to all those who feel abandoned. As members of the Franciscan Family, like St. Francis they live a life marked by its simplicity and charity. 



Organization: The Amigonian Cooperators are organized into local groups, each of which has its own council, comprising a president, vice president/secretary, bursar, one delegate for every 10 members, and a spiritual animator. 



The supreme governing body of the groups is the General Assembly made up of all the full members. The ultimate responsibility for the association, whose work is coordinated by a General Delegate, is the Father General of the Congregation of Capuchin Tertiaries. 



Membership: The Amigonian Cooperators are present as Capuchin Tertiaries in 20 countries as follows: Africa (1), Asia (1), Europe (4), North America (6), and South America (8).





THE STATUTES OF THE ASSOCIATION OF “AMIGONIAN COOPERATORS”



Chapter I – THE NATURE OF THE ASSOCIATION OF THE AMIGONIAN COOPERATORS.

Article 1. - The Association of the Amigonian Cooperators1 is organized by all those persons who feel the calling of the Holy Spirit, with the proper character of their lay vocation2 to follow Christ in the observance of his Gospel walking in the footprints of Fr. Luis Amigó3.

Article 2. – The Association provides with the ideal environment for the integral development of the person, with a process of evangelization4, initiation5 and a living adult faith6 within the Amigonian Charisma7. It proposes a unique way to following Christ with these characteristics:

  • The experience of a Merciful God, a Redeeming Christa and Good Shepherd8, who has come to search for and to save the lost one.
  • Mystic of the collaboration in Jesus’ redemption as Our Lady of Sorrows did. It conforms its members as Zagales of Christ, the Good Shepherd9.
  • Living up the Franciscan spirituality that configures the presence of and the community life: wherein members practice fraternal love, simplicity, humility, service, hospitality, joy, peace…10
  • Living the mission expressing God’s mercy to those who have turned away from God’s love, especially children and youths with difficulties and their families11.

  • Confronting everyday lives with the inspiration of our great spiritual models: Our Lady of Sorrows, St. Francis of Assisi, Fr. Luis Amigo, the Martyrs of the Amigonian Family, including the Patron of the Amigonian Cooperators Association, Blessed Carmen Garcia Moyon12.

  • To feel an active member of the Amigonian Family13 with a specific vocation and specific ministries in union with all who participate in the same Charism.
Article 3. – The Amigonian Cooperators is a Private International Association of Faithful people14 in the Catholic Church with juridical status in accordance with the Church’s Canon Law Nos. 298 to 311 and 321 to 329. They share in the charisma of Fr. Luis Amigó15, which is being propagated by the Religious Congregation of “Tertiary Capuchins of Our Lady of Sorrows”. Its main office is located at the General Curia of the said Religious Congregation.

Chapter II – THE PURPOSE OF THE AMIGONIAN COOPERATORS’ ASSOCIATION.

Article 4. – The goals of the Association are:
  1. To help in the wholesome growth of its members15.
  2. From the perspective of the Amigonian Charisma: to offer an itinerary to grow in the faith16, a method to put into practice the Christian Initiation in the way a Catechumen does, and to live up a mature adult person’s faith.
  3. To aid the members in the fulfillment of the baptismal promises, helping them develop a better understanding of their vocation as lay Catholics in the Church and to put it into practice with a generous commitment17.
  4. To put up communities wherein the members will have the opportunity to meet the Lord on a deeper level, as well as to enhance a truly fraternal relationship with one another18.
  5. To foster the member’s commitment to witness Christ’s love in their families, in their workplace, in the society at large and especially in helping the youth with behavioral problems19.
  6. To spread the Amigonian Charisma as a gift of the Holy Spirit to the Church20.
  7. To foster awareness regarding the youth with behavioral problems and to offer this mission as a concrete field for the commitment21.
h) To collaborate in making the Amigonian Mission greater in all the communities, groups and the like, fostering a wider fraternal experience for all who participate in the Charisma of the Amigonian Family22.



Chapter III. – THE FUNCTIONING OF THE AMIGONIAN COOPERATORS’ ASSOCCIATION.

Article 5. – The Association is organized into Groups or Communities; to be officially recognized they need: A minimum a five (5) members who have taken up the “Commitment”23; to be approved by the National Council of Directors and have elected the Governing Officers.

Article 6. – Persons who want to initiate the process to join in this Association:

  • Lay adults men and women.
  • Christians whether initiated or not; those who practice their faith and those who don’t.
  • Non-baptized persons who want to start their initiation into the Catholic faith.
  • Diocesan priests, for their secular character and respecting their own vocation;24
They write a request to the President of an officially established community, accepting the formation program proposed in the Formation Plan of the Amigonian Cooperators.

Article 7. – The members of the Association are responsible for its growth by the testimony of their lives25 and also by inviting other people to join in26. That’s why the various Communities launch recruiting campaigns periodically in their areas; consequently new Communities under formation will be created and guided by the officially appointed team of Formators of the Community that sponsors the program of formation. Thus, in this way the newly created Community will undergo the initial phases of formation in accordance with the Formation Plan.

Article 8. - The catechumenate27 inspires the dynamic of the groundwork formation28: a process of growth by stages with proper steps per stage; the giving up of the catechumens; the accompanying symbols; the celebration of the sacraments. In this regard, the Ritual for Christian Adults’ Initiation is followed; also other programs, with the same characteristics, in other places but implemented within the spirit of the Amigonian Charisma.

Article 9. – To be officially admitted in the Association as a full pledged member, the candidate needs to be Catholic, of legal age and has written his petition to the Governing Council of the Community that sponsors his/her formation, which decides on his/her presentation to the National Council for his/her acceptance. The Team of Formators presents its report on the new candidate’s progress during the time of his/her formation.

Article 10. Members who are found commendable will take up the “Commitment”, in a special rite29, thus becoming Amigonian Cooperators. Every year the Amigonian Cooperator renews his/her “Commitment” if he/she wishes to do so, with the consent of his/her Community’s Governing Council.

Article 11. – Every member attends the on-going formation and keeps growing in the following dimensions: as a human being, Christian and Amigonian. The Communities of the Amigonian Cooperators have their specific organization and formation curricula that fit their members’ needs according to the realities of each country.

  • They come together in small communities to develop and enhance a more personal interrelationship among the members.
  • Each community has its own governing body and organization: periodical meetings, a program for their spiritual journey, governing duties and responsibilities to foster shared responsibility, registering books, etc.
  • To carry on the basic formative schedules and instruments: personal and communitarian prayer, the celebration of the Sacraments and the listening to the Word, evaluating their lives and fraternal correction, missionary projects, doctrinal formation and formative reading, personal spiritual counseling, spiritual retreats, prayer groups, the celebration of the Amigonian feasts and some other gatherings.
  • Other activities and gatherings run by the Association at different levels for the benefit of the Amigonian Family and the local Church.

Article 12. – The members of the Association have many mission fields to put into practice the “commitment” that springs up from our faith and Charisma: in the family and social environment of each member, in the youth ministry and catechesis, the formation of new communities of adults members, helping youths with behavioral problems, helping prisoners, sociopolitical commitment and other similar ministries, which are all executed in unity with the local church.

Article 13. – The Communities of the Amigonian Cooperators promote all the dimensions of our life of faith in a balanced way: praying community, fraternal community, apostolic community and formative community. Thus when programming the activities, they should pay attention to the growth of each member as well as the community in each of the four dimensions. The meetings, while respecting each community’s idiosyncrasy should have the following components: a) community prayer, which could be centered in the celebration of (Holy Mass) or adoration of the Eucharist; b) time for sharing the members’ life happiness and sorrows; c) time for doctrinal formation; d) and time too for the revision and evaluation of the pastoral commitments and activities.

Article 14. – The communities’ pastoral pedagogy is: participative, transforming and liberating30. It empowers their members to become personally responsible for their spiritual growth, with the ultimate purpose of a true conversion, which should lead to a personal and social transformation. It creates new forms of relationship founded in the fraternity, and promotes everybody’s participation in building a new society, starting with the most vulnerable ones, particularly children and youth facing hazardous situations.

Article 15. – The communities promote among their members the diversity of the Church’s ministries31 and prepare them to carry out those ministries responsibly. Besides those brothers and sisters with the ministries of animation and leadership, the formation of “Educators” must be promoted so that they’ll be able to start and accompany new communities in their neighborhood or in far away places as a missionary choice.

Article 16. – The Amigonian Association promotes a deeper personal commitment32 to various ministries, such as: taking private vows to nurture the spirituality of the Beatitudes, also special disposition for contemplation, the community’s service, the preference for a more passionate community life, or perhaps a missionary work, and also the vocation to the priesthood or religious consecrated life, and others.

Article 17. - The communities will have the spiritual support of the Tertiary Capuchin Religious appointed by their Major Superiors for that purpose, or some other persons considered to be suitable for such ministry in the eyes of the Superiors. The local Spiritual Animators participate in every community’s reunion and in the Council of Directors with the right to speak but not to vote. In the same way other Spiritual Animators who belong to a different level participate in their respective Council of Directors and coordinate the animation of the spiritual life of those communities that belong to that level. They can’t be elected to assume governing positions in the Association. Major Superiors of the Congregation of Terciary Capuchins help in the animation of the communities of Amigonian Cooperators with fraternal visits.

Article 18. - Each member should keep his ongoing personal growth open to God, with the help of his brethren and the Association’s resources and activities. The Communities and Governing Councils at all levels (local, national, international) keep reviewing and evaluating their community’s spiritual journey to guarantee its growth in keeping with a creative fidelity to the Christian-Amigonian’s ideals. Thus the Presidents of the Councils of Directors of higher levels conduct Pastoral Visits periodically to the Communities in order to evaluate their way of life and mission work; they also carry out fraternal visitations to the communities.

Article 19. – Members contribute financially, in solidarity to the functioning of their community’s economy. Likewise, every Community contributes for the economy needs of the Governing Council of higher level, in accordance with those Council’s enacted regulation for the matter. The Association as such can acquire, retain, administer and alienate any needed assets to fulfill its goals in accordance with these Statutes and the Code of Canon Law. The cooperators render their missionary services voluntarily without any economic compensation. All services rendered by the Cooperators are voluntary, thus without any financial benefit. If a Cooperator leaves the Association or is legally expelled from it he/she does not have any rights to ask for financial compensation for the services he/she rendered in the past.

Article 20. – The Communities express their insertion into their own Local Churches by actively participating in the parish’s activities as well as in the Diocesan’s organizations, especially in what pertains to the Association’s goals.33

Chapter IV – ORGANIZATION OF THE ASSOCIATION OF THE AMIGONIAN COOPERATORS

Article 21. – The communities of the Amigonian Cooperators are organized in the following levels: international, national and local, united and coordinating among themselves.

Article 22. – The International Council is in charge of leading and strengthening the Association worldwide and represents it before the Civil and Religious organizations. It is composed of a President, a Vice-president, a Secretary, an Administrator, two Counselors and one Spiritual Director.

Article 23. – The International Council is elected by the International Assembly that meets at least every six years. Six years is the extension of the elected International Council too. The members of the Council can be reelected for successive governing periods except the President who can be re-elected only once. The members of the Assembly with active and passive voice (can vote and can be voted upon) are: the International Council, the Presidents of the National Councils and the Delegates elected by the Cooperators in their own countries, in the proportion of one delegate for 50 Cooperators, or a fraction of that number.

Article 24. – The International Assembly is the highest governing body of the Association. Its competencies are:

  • To approve the present Statutes of the Association and any other reformed ones in the future to be presented to the Pontifical Council for the Laity.
  • To elect the officers of the International Council.
  • To scrutinize the state of the Association, and to establish the needed body of criteria and agreements in fidelity to the present Statutes to conduct the above mentioned evaluation.
  • To approve some operating guidelines to promote the Association’s vigor both in her being and in all of her activities.
  • To appraise and approve the Association’s financial operation.
  • To regulate the Association’s performance in any instances and places worldwide.

Article 25. To elect the President it is required the absolute majority of votes of the members who are present. The voting must be done secretly. After two ballot votes with no positive outcome, a new balloting will be conducted. The two members with more votes will be the candidates to be voted upon; If more than two have the same number of votes, the two who are older in their “Commitment” shall be selected. If after the third ballot the candidates have the same number of votes, the one with an older “Commitment Pledge” shall be elected. For the election of the other members of the Council after a first balloting without an absolute majority, a second one will be conducted, in secret too, and a relative majority of votes of all members present will be sufficient.

Article 26 – The International Council’s competencies are:

  • To promote, strengthen and coordinate the life and activities of the Amigonian Cooperators worldwide.
  • To elaborate the International Association’s agenda in accordance with the International Assembly’s criteria and agreements.
  • To elect any other International Officers not determined by the Assembly . To accept the resignation of any officer at the International level and to elect a new member to occupy the vacancy.
  • To confirm the election of the National Councils done during the National Assemblies. To approve the newly formed Councils.
  • To approve the Rules and Regulations of the various nations.
  • To organize the International Assembly and to decide the need of any other extraordinary Assembly.
  • To foster the formation of the members of the Association by elaborating proposals and procuring the means to carry them out.
  • To strengthen worldwide the cooperation of the Association with the Congregation of Terciary Capuchin Religious, the rest of the Amigonian Family, the Franciscan Family and the Church.
  • To approve the financial plan and balances of the International Fund and to decide how to use the available money.
  • To organize pastoral and fraternal visitations to the various National Communities of the Association.
  • To promote the growth of the Association.
  • To fulfill other functions the International Assembly may assign to the Council.

All the members of the International Council, except the Spiritual Director, have the right “to speak and to vote” in the Council’s decisions making, which needs a simple majority of votes. The President makes the final decision if the ballot comes out even.

Article 27. – Tasks of the President of the International Council:

  • To convene and preside the International Assemblies as well as to implement the actions approved by the Assembly.
  • To convene and preside the reunions of the International Council and to carry out the actions the Council approved.
  • To watch over the fidelity of the various National Communities to the Project of Life and to these Statutes.
  • To be a visible and effective sign of communion in between the Association with the Congregation of Terciary Capuchin Religious, the rest of the Amigonian Family, the Franciscan Family and the Church.
  • To preside personally, or by a delegate, and to confirm together with his Counselors the elected Regional Assemblies.
  • To carry on personally or by a delegate the Pastoral and Fraternal Visitations to the national regions from time to time.
  • To sign official documents and to intervene in emergency situations informing his Council.
  • To represent the Association before the civil and religious authorities worldwide.
  • To prepare a report to be presented to the General Assembly every six years.

Article 28. – The Vice-president of the International Council substitutes the President in case of absence or resignation. In the case of the President’s resignation the Vice-president assumes his functions until the next International Assembly.

Article 29. – Tasks of the International Secretary:

  • To prepare in conjunction with the President the Council’s meetings.
  • To write, keep and sign the minutes of the Council’s meetings.
  • To testify to the actions taken by the Council with his signature and the Council’s Seal. To communicate the Council’s decisions to those interested.
  • To put in black and white the official documents and to present them to the person in charge to sign them.
  • To take care of the International Archive. To keep up to date the book of membership at the International level.
  • To make more dynamic the communication in the Association using different means.
  • To write down the annual report of activities and to lead the preparation of the Association’s six years term report.

Article 30. – Tasks of the International Treasurer:

  • To administer the International Fund.
  • To render an account of his administration to both the International Council and the Assembly periodically.
  • To keep up to date the accounting books.
  • To prepare the annual budgets and balances.
  • To execute all financial operations entrusted to him.
  • To systematize and update the inventory of the Association’s assets.

Article 31. – The Counselors should:

  • Participate in the reunions, sharing their opinions and votes on matters under their Governing Council’s competency.
  • Stir up a specific field of activity given to them, such as: fraternity, prayer, celebration, formation and apostolate.
  • Report to the Council the outcome of the duties assigned to them.

Article 32. – Tasks of the Spiritual Director:

  • To enliven the spiritual life of the Association, safeguarding its constant and growing fidelity to the Project of Life.
  • To collaborate closely with the other members of the International Council so that the Association will be able to carry on its program and fulfill its goals.
  • To give support to the formation of new members and communities.
  • To function as a bridge of unity in between the Association and the Congregations of Terciary Capuchin Religious. To inform the General Superior about the Association’s development.

Article 33. – The National Council is the leader and animator of the Association at that level, representing it also before the civil and religious authorities. The National Council is organized like the International Council. Its members are elected in the National Assembly for a period of only three years; they can me reelected for succeeding Councils, except the President who can be re-elected only once. The National Assembly holds a meeting at least once every three years. The participants with active and passive voice in the National Assembly are: the National Council, the Presidents of the Communities in the nation, and a another delegate per each Community elected by the members. However, there must be a minimum number of twelve attending the Assembly, if this number can’t be achieved another delegate from each Community shall be elected to join in the Assembly.

Article 34. – The functions of the National Council and of each of its members are as those of the International Council, respecting the scope its competencies. Adding also: the acceptance of the “Commitment” of the candidates presented by the Councils of the Communities, and the approval of the New Communities. If a country does not have the National Council organized, the closest country with National Council assumes the previous country’s competences.

Article 35. – In addition to the above mentioned Assemblies, the Councils may organize various kinds of fraternal and formative meetings at each level, inviting more delegates and with a much richer working agenda than the one used for the regular Assemblies.

Article 36. – At the Local or Community level, the General Assembly summons all the members of the community for the following:

  • To elect the Local Council, determining its rights and the term of its governing duration.
  • To examine the Community’s status and to establish adequate sets of criteria and agreements to strengthen it.
  • To set up some specific strategies to promote the vitality of the Community and its actions. - To approve the Community’s manual of internal rules and regulations.
  • To examine and approve the economic modus operandi.
  • To decide on convocations to organize new communities.
  • To regulate the Community’s functioning in all its areas.
  • The members of the Assembly who have taken up the “Commitment” are the only ones with the right to vote.

Article 37. – The Governing Council of each community has the same number of members as the other Councils. These are its functions:

  • To provide appropriate rules and orientations for the operation of the community.
  • To help elaborate and implement the Community’s Project.
  • To propose initiatives to make the Community more dynamic.
  • To promote the growth of the Association. To accompany the journey of formation of the new Communities. To accept the petition to “Commitment” of the members who have successfully accomplished the “initial formation” and present it to the National Council. They will be accepted officially as members of the Association by the National Governing Council.
  • To summon the General Assembly whenever they consider it necessary and to apply the agreements taken up by the Assembly.
  • To elect members to cover up positions and functions not included in the General Assembly. To accept the resignation of any Councilor and to fill up the vacancy with a new member.
  • To stimulate unity with other nearby communities of the Association, with the rest of the Amigonian Family, the Franciscan Family and the local Church.
  • To supervise the community’s economic management. To approve the financial budget and balance.
  • To be concerned about each brothers’ and sisters’ growth, particularly those undergoing special difficulties.
  • And any other task assigned by the General Assembly.

Article 38. – Duties of the Community Council’s President:

  • To officially call for a General Assembly, to preside over it and to execute its decisions.
  • To call for the Governing Council’s meetings, to preside over them and to execute the approved tasks.
  • To oversee the Community’s fidelity to the Project of Life and to these statutes.
  • To coordinate the elaboration of the Community’s Project and to follow up its implementation.
  • To visit the Communities in formation and to look after their formation growth in progress.
  • To request a Pastoral Visit to the National President at least once a year.
  • To be a visible and effective sign of unity between the Community and the Congregation of Terciary Capuchin Religious, the rest of the Amigonian Family, the Franciscan Family and the Local Church.
  • To prepare the annual report to be presented to the General Assembly and to send it to the National Council.
  • To represent the Community before different institutions.

Article 39. – The Council’s Vice-president substitutes for the President if he is absent or has resigned until the next Community’s Assembly should be held.

Article 40. - Duties of the Governing Council’s Secretary:

  • To prepare the reunions of the Council in agreement with the President.
  • To take and keep the minutes of the meetings of the General Assembly and the Council.
  • To elaborate and follow up the Community’s calendar of activities.
  • To write the Community’s official documents and to present them to the person who’ll sign it.
  • To put in writing the chronicles of the most important events of the Community’s life.
  • To motivate the communication of the Community’s members facilitating the list of their personal data.
  • To take good care of the archive. To keep up to date the Community’s membership book.
  • To prepare The Community’s Annual Report and send it to the National President.

Article 41. – Duties of the Treasurer:

  • To administer the community’s funds collected from the members’ voluntary donations and others.
  • To render an account of his administration periodically to the Governing Council and to the Community, and to inform the National Council.
  • To keep the accounting books updated.
  • To prepare the annual financial budgets and balances.
  • To execute all the financial activities entrusted to him.
  • To make and to keep updated the community’s assets inventory.

Article 42. – Duties of the Spiritual Director:

  • To animate the spiritual life of the Community, safeguarding its constant and growing commitment to the Project of Life and these Statutes.
  • To be ready to listen and counsel any person who asks for his guidance.
  • To collaborate closely with the Governing Council’s members so that the community may be able to fulfill its objectives, thus accomplishing the purpose of the Association.
  • To give support especially to the formation of new members and new communities.
  • To inform the T.C. Major Superiors of the Congregation about the Community’s performance.

Article 43. – The Amigonian Cooperators belong to the Amigonian Family together with the Tertiary Capuchin Sisters of the Holy Family, Tertiary Capuchin Brothers of Our Lady of Sorrows, the Amigonian Laity Movement, and other lay people who feel called to follow Jesus and let His Light guide them within the Amigonian Charisma.. They encourage the fraternal unity committing themselves to building and make stronger this charismatic unity. They feel especially co-responsible with both Religious Congregations, with the Amigonian Youth Groups, also with the Zagales and Amigonian Youth, accompanying them in their growth so that reaching adulthood they may join in one of the Church’s Faith Communities, like for example the one organized by the same Amigonian Cooperators or any other within the Amigonian Family.34

Chapter V – OTHER DISPOSITIONS

Article 44. – Each level or demarcation: International and National may prepare some suitable, concrete provision for these Statutes in a document called “Rules and Regulations”. Likewise, each community shall gather some specific, practical “Rules and Regulations” in a similar document for its internal management. Also, some communities may have a special regime in accordance with the needs of its members, which should be written in their internal document. The “Rules and Regulations” document will come into effect once it has been approved by the Council of the superior level.

Article 45. – The Communities may become civil associations with juridical personality upon the approval of the higher Governing Council.35

Article 46. – A President who wishes to resign presents his resignation to his community’s Council. Once the Council accepts the President’s resignation, it must be confirmed by the President of the superior level. If so happens, the Vice-president assumes the President’s position until the next Community’s Assembly. Regarding the resignation of any other positions, it should be presented to the President, who together with his Council decide whether to accept it or not and elect a replacement.

Article 47. – In the case of a President who doesn’t fulfill his duties, his Council manifests its worries to him in a fraternal dialogue. Then if there isn’t any positive result, the Council informs the higher level Council, which after examining the case and by a secret balloting can remove a President of a lower level. To remove any other person from his present position is the duty of the Governing Council after having a fraternal dialogue with him/her and by a secret balloting. The substitution of persons holding these positions is done in accordance with the previous article, # 46.

Article 48. – If for a good reason a brother or sister wants to transfer to another community, he/she informs the community he/she belongs to about his intention; then he/she presents his/her petition with a good explanation to the President of the community he/she intends to join. The Council will make a decision on the matter after obtaining a report from the candidate’s present Community.

Article 49. – Members who frequently and for personal reasons need to travel far away from their Community need to keep in contact with their Community if there isn’t any other Community of Amigonian Cooperators within the area where they travel to; in that way they may secure their spiritual growth. Likewise, National and Local “Rules and Regulations” levels can incorporate special ways or rules for those who somehow want to participate in the Community’s formation and activities.

Article 50. – Ways to cease belonging to the Amigonian Cooperators’ Community: the Cooperator may voluntarily leave the Community writing a letter to the President; being absent for six months without justification; the Governing Council executes the Community’s to expel the member sending the written petition to the National Governing Council. There is a need to proceed with charity after proving that one member’s way of life is in serious contradiction with the Project of Life of the Association. There should be a fraternal dialogue with the person before reaching his/her expulsion. The National Governing Council will then issue the decree of expulsion after examining the solicitation and other documents, in accordance with the present Statutes.

Article 51. – Any Amigonian Cooperator who left the Association voluntarily, or who was expelled from the community, may request to be readmitted by writing an appropriate letter to the President of the National Council. The Council, after requesting information from the Community the member used to belong, will determine if the grounds for his/her resignation or expulsion have been removed or overcome, and if that is the case he/she may be readmitted.

Article 52. – If a member feels hurt by a decision taken against him/her, he/she may bring his/her complaint to the Council of the higher level than the one that took the decision, within three months; if he/she is not satisfied, he/she may appeal to the International Council and to the Pontifical Council for the Laity.

Article 53. – Any possible changes to these present Statutes must be proposed by the International Assembly of the Amigonian Cooperators Association with a majority of two thirds (2/3) of the votes, which will be subject to the final approval of the Pontifical Council for the Laity.

Article 54. - The Association of the Amigonian Cooperators can be abolished by the competent authority if its activity causes serious damage to the Church’s discipline and/or doctrinal teaching, or scandalizes the faithful believers36. In these cases the property of the Association shall be donated to charitable institutions. The same is true in the case of a Local Community that ceases to operate.



INDEX OF ACRONYMS

AA: Apostolicam Actuositatem, Vat. II Council’s Decree on the lay apostolate (Oct.18-1965).

AG: Ad Gentes, Vat. II Council’s Decree on the Church’s mission (Dec. 7, 1965).

CCC: Catechism of the Catholic Church (Oct. 11, 1992).

CIC: Codex Iuris Canonici (the Church’s Code of Canon Law) (Jan. 25, 1983).

ChL: Christifedeles Laici, Pope John Paul II Apostolic Exhortation (Dec. 30, 1988): AAS 81 (1989), pages 393-521.

CT: Catechesi Tradendae, Pope John Paul II Apostolic Exhortation (Oct. 16, 1979): AAS 71 (1979), pages 1277-1340.

DAp: The “Aparecida” Documents (2007), V Episcopal Conference of Latin-America.

DCG: Directorium Catechisticum Generale Ad normam decreti, Sacred Congregation for the Clergy, (April 11, 1971): AAS 64 (1972), pages 97-176.

DGC: Directorium Catechisticum Generale Ad normam decreti, Sacred Congregation for the Clergy (August 11, 1997).

DMe: The “Medellin” Document, II Episcopal Conference of Latin-America, (1968).

DP: The “Puebla” Document, III Episcopal Conference of Latin-America, (1979).

DSD: The “Santo Domingo” Document, IV Episcopal Conference of Latin-America, (1992).

EN: Evangelii Nuntiandi, Pope Paul VI Apostolic Exhortation (Dec. 8, 1975): AAS 58 (1976), pages 5-76.

LG: Lumen Gentium, Vat. II Council’s Dogmatic Constitution on the Church (Nov. 21, 1964).

MEA: The Amigonian Manual of Spirituality, Religious Terciary Capuchins, Valencia 2006.

OCLA: Obras Completas (Fr. Luís Amigo’s Complete Writings), BAC, Madrid, 1986.

PVCA: The Project of Life of the Amigonian Cooperators (Proyecto de Vida de los Cooperadores Amigonianos), Madrid 1992.RICA: RCIA - Ritual of Christian Initiation for Adults, ed. Italiana del Ordo Initiationes Christianae Adultorum, Editio Typica, Typis Polyglotties Vaticanis, 1972.

SC: Sacrosanctum Concilium, Vatican II Council’s Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy (Dec. 4, 1963).

1 Fr. Luis Amigo was a great animator of the Franciscan Lay Third Order, which is the antecedent of the Amigonian Cooperators Association. Two movements were born within the Amigonian world: “The Pious Union of St. Anthony of Padua at Torrent, Valencia, Spain since the beginning of the Congregation, and the “Pious Union of Marian Cooperators” in Italy, approved at the Diocesan level in 1937, later on it was brought to all the Amigonian Missions. Both associations still exist today.
2 See LG chapter 4; AA; EN 70; ChL; CIC 204-329; DP 186-205; Dap 209-215. See DCG 93; EN 58; CT 24; ChL 29, 33-34, 61; DGC 158-159 & 258c, 263,264; DMe 13 on pastoral recommendations; DP 629; DSD 61; Dap 178-180 & 307-313.
3 Fr. Luis Amigó was born in Masamagrell, Valencia, Spain in 1854. Became a Capuchin Friar in 1875 and was ordained priest in 1879. In 1885 founded the Congregation of the Terciary Capuchin Sisters and in 1889 the Terciary Capuchin Brothers. Since 1907 became Bishop of Solsona and Segorbe in Spain. He died in 1934. Presently he is “Venerable” and in the process of beatification.
4 See AG 10-18; DGC 47-49, 58, 64.
5 See AG 14; RCIA; CT 21, 79; DGC 63-68.
6 See DCG 20; CT 43; ChL 57-63; DGC 69-72.
7 About Charismas: LG 12; ChL 24; the Amigonian Charisma is the Holy Spirit’s gift to the Church thru Fr. Luis Amigó that is carried on by the Religious Congregations he founded and now also by the Amigonian Cooperators Association.
8 OCLA 1831, 666, 2250, 260; MEA 7-28, 138-146, 174-199; PVCA 2, 3, 16-18.
9 OCLA 923, 1831, 829, 1813, 239, 826; MEA 29-36, 147, 200-216; PVCA 4, 17, 19-21.
10 OCLA 1832-1833, 1020, 2430, 2084, 1734, 2294, 1819; MEA 37-46, 97-98, 148-153, 220-248; PVCA 22.
11 OCLA 1831, 1780, 365,563, 2359,1805, 1058; MEA 110-137, 154-172; PVCA nº 6, 7, 37-39, 44-50.
12 Cfr. PSM; MEA 7-65; PVCA 5-6, 23,36.
13 Constituyen la Familia Amigoniana todos aquellos que, de alguna manera, participan y se sienten identificados con la espiritualidad y la obra del P. Luis Amigó. Ver sus integrantes en el artículo 43. Cfr. MEA 276-281; PVCA 27-28.
14 Regarding the associations of lay faithful in the Church besides the cannons mentioned in this article, please see also: LG 36-37; AA 4, 18-21; ChL 29-30; NMI 46; DSD 102; DAp 311-313.
15 See ChL 57,59-60; PVCA 29,40.
16 See EN 44, 54; CT 25,43, 70; DGC 172-176, 258; DAp 134; PVCA 26, 40, 42.
17 See LG cap. IV; AG 21; ChL 8-17; DAp 153, 184; PVCA 2,8.
18 DCG 93; EN 23 y 58; CT 24; ChL 29, 33-34, 61; RM 51; DGC 158-159 y 258c, 263, 264; DCE 20; DMe apartado de pastoral popular, recomendación 13; DP 629; DSD 61; DAp 178-180 y 307-313; PVCA 24-28.
19 See AA; AG 41; GS 43; EN 24; ChL capítulo III; RM 71-72; DGC 230, 231, 261-262; DAp 278, 284, 376-377; OCLA 1148; PVCA 37-39,44-50.
20 SeeLG 12; ChL 24; DAp 162; PVCA 15.
21 See EN 31; ChL 40, 46-47; DGC 147, 180, 189-190; DCE 31,33; DAp 134, 257, 391, 399-400, 409, 422, 439, 441, 444, 446; PVCA 48-50.
22 See MEA 276-281; PVCA 27.
23 Ver el artículo 10.
24 CIC 298.
25 See AG 11; EN 21; RM 42-43; DGC 46-48.
26 See ChL 58.
27 See SC 64-65; AG 13-14; RICA cap. 4; EN 44; CT 44; ChL 61; CEC 1231; DGC 51, 59, 91.
28 See ChL 57-63; PVCA 29-43.
29 Con la fórmula que prevé el PVCA en el nº 55 y las orientaciones del Ceremonial.
30 See ChL 20, 44, 59; PVCA 41.
31 See ChL 21.
32 See ChL 55-56.
33 ChL 25-27; CIC 311.

34 Además de los ya nombrados, participan también de la Familia Amigoniana los alumnos y exalumnos, familiares, educadores y voluntarios amigonianos, colaboradores y bienhechores…
35 CIC 322.
36 CIC 326.