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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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