FYYA Description of a Spiritual Assistant to the Franciscan Youth

MINISTRY DESCRIPTION
FRANCISCAN YOUTH and YOUNG ADULTS

SPIRITUAL ASSISTANCE

The role of a Spiritual Assistant (SA) to the Franciscan Youth/Young Adults (FY/YA) encompasses all of the ministries, duties, and obligations of a Spiritual Assistant to the Secular Franciscan Order (OFS) with the extended essentials of journeying with the youth.

These include, but are not limited to the following:

• Knowledge of:
  • the basics of human and spiritual formation of youth and young adults
  • Franciscan spirituality and how it pertains to youth and young adults
  • Franciscan Youth/Young Adults and its importance to the life of the OFS
  • OFS governing documents pertaining to the FY/YA and YouFra

• Ability to:
  • listen to, and to journey beside the youth and young adults
  • collaborate with the FY/YA Fraternal Animator in the formation of youth and young adults
  • actively participate in the lives and gatherings of the youth and young adults
  • make prayers and celebrations age appropriate

• Readiness to:
  • share their own Franciscan vocational journey with the youth and young adults
  • open the lines of communication with other SAs and the Regional SA
  • be in communication with the OFS FY/YA Commission
  • keep abreast of youth and young adult activities within the Region, Order, and the Church

• Required to:
  • Obtain permission from their Provincial Minister to serve the FY/YA
  • obtain all the required certification to work with youth in the diocese where serving (i.e. VIRTUS or Praesidium)
  • read the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, 2018 USCCB
  • read Instruments of Hope and Healing Safeguarding Children and Young People, 2016 Standards for Accreditation Child Protection Program of the Conference of Major Superiors of Men (CMSM)

“Assistant from the Latin verb ‘adsistere,’ means to stand beside, to stand near, to be present, to protect, to support, to help by means of one’s own active participation.  An assistant is one who is called, because of his or her competence…” 
Manual of the General Spiritual Assistants – Chapter iv - #3.5