Starting An Association Of The Faithful

[NovemberFourth]

Hi all,

Until recently I was a Novice with the Servants of the Sacred Cross but after much thought and prayer I discerned I was not called there. I am considering starting an Association of the Faithful here in the UK/ Europe. I do have a charism in mind but obviously this will require much prayer, thought and work.
Could anyone point me in the direction of any resources; books, online, whatever. On how to proceed and what would be required?

Thanks in advance and God bless

Julie (N4)

[Gemma]

Yes, I do. I have a preparatory association of the faithful with the intention of becoming an institute of religious life. Such groups are seen as baby institutes, and are nurtured by the clergy. My primary lay association sponsors the Fullerton Society, which has an online listserv with website under construction. Here, at least, is the group's address: [url="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/fullerton_society/"]http://groups.yahoo.com/group/fullerton_society/[/url]

Get everything written down. The late Fr. Gambari, the "guru" of founding institutes of religious life, says that groups begin as their own third orders. We may have in mind what the institute is going to do and what it's going to look like, but one has to bring that down to laity level first. Distinctive garb is permitted, as are the taking of religious names, and living together. The latter situation is known as a beguinage.

You'll also need a spiritual director. He or she may advise speaking with the local bishop. He has what is called a Pastoral Plan, and your coming to him may actually fulfill a need within the diocese. The two of you can dialogue on what you're feeling attracted to doing, and what he's wanting to accomplish. Don't be discouraged if you meet with some kind of gauntlet. They are required to test the vocation, and some will do so by being downright nasty. I have received a lot of support here locally, as they have judged my project as being sincere. Always give the impression of humble seriousness and maturity. If you have a genuine charism, such will happen as you progress.

LAFs require statutes, which should include the following:

1. Nature, purpose, and name
2. Membership -- how does one become a member and how does one separate?
3. Manner of action
4. Government and center
5. Review & amendment of statutes

Here are websites for a couple of our LAFs which have the statutes posted:

Charity Associates of the Miraculous Medal:
[url="http://cloisters.tripod.com/camm/"]http://cloisters.tripod.com/camm/[/url]

Compassionate Friends of the Comatose:
[url="http://cloisters.tripod.com/cfc/"]http://cloisters.tripod.com/cfc/[/url]

When you've gathered aspirants from the LAF, they become a preparatory association. Give yourself at least five years, and this is mainly due to either writing the formation program as you go along (as we've done), or going through the time required by canon law. You'll be working on the following:

1. Rule--what is your spirituality? Augustinian, Benedictine, Carmelite, etc.
2. Constitutions--how do you live your particular interpretation of the spirituality?
3. Horarium--how are you to spend your time?
4. Formation program/establishment of novitiate--the formation program will lead to a physical novitiate
5. Remunerative work--the diocese is not financially responsible for you
6. Stable source of habit parts--there are a number of habit makers out there
7. Three or four persevering members--Fr. Gambari says having some of the original aspirants is seen as good

If establishing a new house of an established spirituality, their rules for setting up a new house have to be followed. Such rules are usually along the lines of what has just been stated above. We are trying to set up Betty Carmels for older vocations, and we're having to benchmark off the 1991 Constitutions because the 1990s don't have such guidelines in their constitutions. I know they would defer to the church, but the church says, what do your constitutions say? The 1990s don't have anything, and this is something that needs to be addressed.

Your time with the SSC will help you with your religious life experience. There will be something called a "founder's novitiate" required by canon law. This will be one year spent with an established religious community, and they will teach you your formation program. A new community in Canada just went through this, as did Mother Miriam of the Lamb of God/Rosalind Moss. Expect to pay $100 a month.

I also have a group for the UK and Europe, in case you're interested. My organization has a UK initiative, the Marian Society, which will give rise to the Handmaids of Mary for Mary's Dowry, and other charisms as well. You're not alone over there. You're welcome to join us, whether you wish to participate in one of our initiatives or persevere with your own. Here is the UK group's address:
[url="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/catholic_vocations_uk_europe/"]http://groups.yahoo.com/group/catholic_vocations_uk_europe/[/url]

HTH

Blessings,
Gemma

[NovemberFourth]

Dear Gemma

Many thanks for such a lengthy answer. It is most helpful. As you know by now I have submitted requests to join both your lists. Out of interest how many people are required to start an association and is it necessary to approach a Bishop straight away?
Many thanks

Julie

[Gemma]

[quote name='NovemberFourth' timestamp='1351633253' post='2500539']
Dear Gemma

Many thanks for such a lengthy answer. It is most helpful. As you know by now I have submitted requests to join both your lists. Out of interest how many people are required to start an association and is it necessary to approach a Bishop straight away?
Many thanks

Julie
[/quote]

Even if you went to a bishop straight away, he would only be able to offer his prayers and act as a sounding board for your inspirations. This would prove helpful if he knows what he's doing. His main concern will likely be the lack of religious life experience, which has been stated above, ie, the founder's novitiate. Your charism coming to fruition in his diocese will also be contingent upon the resources brought to the group. If you're in an apartment in the diocese of x, but an aspirant with a house is in the diocese of y, then it would make sense to transplant once the two of you get to know each other, and you've lived the life separately.

If you don't tell the bishop, he will eventually get wind of your project. Fr Gambari brings this up in his book.

You yourself can be a lay association, just as a diocesan hermit is their own charism. I worked by myself for years as Cloister Outreach before anyone came on the scene, which happened after I got on the internet. Now I have an international group of Cooperators and affiliate founders. We've been in existence for over 20 years now.

Blessings,
Gemma

[nikita92]

Gemma, what are your thoughts about new communities developing for older/mature vocations? I myself feels that there is a need for this. Also, why fo you call it "Betty" carmels? Thank you

[Gemma]

[quote name='nikita92' timestamp='1351746716' post='2501842']
Gemma, what are your thoughts about new communities developing for older/mature vocations? I myself feels that there is a need for this. Also, why fo you call it "Betty" carmels? Thank you
[/quote]

The term "Betty Order" came to me during Advent a couple of years ago. I was at Mass--I am thinking it was Gaudete Sunday-- and after the reading of the Visitation, St. Elizabeth's job as mother of the Precursor even as an older woman became foremost in thought, and the term "Betty Orders" came to me. "Betty," of course, being short for "Elizabeth."

Betty Orders are coming into vogue. There's Mater Ecclesia in the UK, and the Eudist Servants of the Eleventh Hour. The Benedictines of Corpus Christi Monastery in Michigan thought they were suppressed, but a canonist said the suppression was invalid, and Sister Ann Marie is restarting in New York. There's also a couple of Franciscan communities for late vocations. One is affiliated with the Franciscans of the Immaculate.

All communities begin as their own third orders, and Betty Orders will arise from them just like any other. The difference is the formation program, which is the bare-bones minimum required by canon law--one year of novitiate, and three years of temporary vows. Anything less will go against the founder in a court of church law, and possibly civil law.

"Betty Carmel" is a term beloved by a Discalced Carmelite prioress who has compassion for older vocations, but believes the solution is a new branch of the OCDs dedicated exclusively to them. The Betty Carmels will have the minimum novitiate required. Otherwise, they will look just like any other Carmel. Accepting younger vocations would be necessary for the group to continue, but the younger ones would be the exception and not the rule. They should also keep in mind that the formation program will be shorter than another Carmel.

The future Betty Carmel's private lay association is now called the Grey Doves of Carmel. They are going through a formation program, and make promises, but will not be considered Carmelite nuns because they are not living in community, nor are they making the same kinds of commitment/vows. The Grey Doves make only promises, and live like a third order. Once someone comes forth with a house, and the candidates are vetted, then the community can begin. The EF adherents will likely have the 1990 Constitutions, and OF adherents will likely be 1991.

[url="http://cloisters.tripod.com/delayed_carmel/"]http://cloisters.tripod.com/delayed_carmel/[/url]

Cloister Outreach has a long-standing tradition of ministering to delayed vocations. Many of our affiliate founders are older vocations who were rejected by other communities. They would not be with us if they did not have that sense of peace which comes from having found home. Here is our affiliate new foundation site: [url="http://cloisters.tripod.com/conf/"]http://cloisters.tripod.com/conf/[/url]

Blessings,
Gemma
[url="http://cloisters.tripod.com/"]http://cloisters.tripod.com/[/url]

[Feankie]

Julie,
Many prayers coming your way. I too discerned the SSC were not for me. Th Spirit works in strange ways as I had a long conversation with 2 Dames of Malta when I went to Charlotte for a friends solemn profession as a Poor Clare.
The upshot is.....my application to the Order of Malta (yes, it is considered a religious order and the application itself alone with supporting documents and recommendations is hideously L O N G) The entire packet must be approved here in the U.S. and the sent on to Rome for approval there as well. Then, if I'm accepted, there is 18 months of formation including going ti Lourdes with the Order and assisting the malades. I'm pretty pumped about it.
You're getting excellent advice from others on VS, so I won't add any myself. Please keep us posted so we can pray appropriately.

[MarieLynn]

Julie,

After a years discernment, I too felt the SSC were not for me .

Gemma has given you excellent advice, and I wish you God's blessing as you take the first of the many steps as you go forward to establishing your Association of the Faithful.

Prayers always

ML.

[deusluxmea]

Hi Gemma,

What is your source for those seven points? I have not come across them before.

[Gemma]

[quote name='deusluxmea' timestamp='1351813957' post='2502363']
Hi Gemma,

What is your source for those seven points? I have not come across them before.
[/quote]

It's somewhere in canon law. When I first talked to a bishop about our charisms--back in 1988 or thereabouts--those were the seven things he asked me about. I didn't have many answers for him because I didn't know about them.

Then when I did contact a canonist, they gave me the same list. Fr Gambari discusses them as well. If you email the Institute on Religious Life, they have a set of guidelines which show the different requirements between a religious institute; society of apostolic life; and secular institute.

Our Fullerton Society offers support from the conception of the charism to the point at which the Guidelines pick up. I call it the groundwork stage myself. There may be another term that I don't know about at the moment.

I would go looking through canon law for it, but I am presently typing this and cooking supper!

Blessings,
Gemma

[deusluxmea]

I think the Canon Law might be here

[url="http://www.intratext.com/IXT/ENG0017/_P1X.HTM"]http://www.intratext.com/IXT/ENG0017/_P1X.HTM[/url]

[nikita92]

Thank you Gemma! Very informative!

[Gemma]

[quote name='deusluxmea' timestamp='1351826278' post='2502593']
I think the Canon Law might be here

[url="http://www.intratext.com/IXT/ENG0017/_P1X.HTM"]http://www.intratext.com/IXT/ENG0017/_P1X.HTM[/url]
[/quote]

Thanks for the page. As one canonist said, there is visible canon law, and there's invisible canon law and the latter is one of the things the canonists are trained in. I can assure you, though, that every canonist I or others have spoken with has told us the same thing about these seven requirements.

Blessings,
Gemma

[Gemma]

[quote name='nikita92' timestamp='1351912350' post='2503306']
Thank you Gemma! Very informative!
[/quote]

You are most welcome! You may be interested in our Betty Orders page:
http://cloisters.tripod.com/conf/id11.html

If that doesn't work, then try our main CONF site and click the Betty Orders link:
Http://cloisters.tripod.com/conf/

Blessings,
Gemma

[Sponsa-Christi]

[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][size=4]Right now, I’m just a Canon Law student, but I just want to point out that the above-mentioned information is [u][i]NOT[/i][/u] included anywhere in Canon Law (e[color=#000000]ven if the above-listed steps might have perhaps been helpful a founder at some point, or in a less-official context). [/color]And actually, I don't think the [i]Code of Canon Law[/i] really lists anything like step-by-step instructions for the founding of entirely new religious communities.

To the best of my knowledge, there is no such thing as invisible Canon Law. There are some binding laws that are not included in the Code itself (for example, a great deal of liturgical law is only included in the texts of the rituals themselves), but I don't think we could really call these laws “invisible.”

Also, although you could say that both established religious communities and developing religious communities are specific types of associations of the faithful, in general an association of the faithful is not something that necessarily needs to have anything to do with religious life. I.e., it’s completely possible to have an association of the faithful that intends to remain simply a private association of laypeople.

[color=#222222]My own thought is that if someone did feel called to start a new religious community, it might best to start by going directly to the local bishop; and/or by finding a knowledgeable and prayerful canon lawyer to talk to in person, perhaps preferably one who is familiar with the pastoral needs and circumstances of the local diocese. I think this would allow one to get a better and much clearer picture of what would be realistically possible in one’s concrete circumstances, what kind of specific challenges one would be likely to face, what sort of questions would need to be resolved, the actual steps needed in order to move forward in a specific case, etc. (This is of course after talking to one’s spiritual director and discerning that one is seeking to found a community for the right reasons.)[/color]

[color=#222222]I think one book that gives a good sense of what kind of issues need to be taken into consideration when founding a new religious community is [url="http://www.amazon.com/Mother-Teresa-Private-Writings-Calcutta/dp/B00394DH18/ref=tmm_hrd_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1352031055&sr=1-1"][i]Come, Be My Light[/i][/url], which recounts the story of Mother Teresa’s founding the Missionaries of Charity.[/color][/size][/font]

Edited November 4, 2012 by Sponsa-Christi