II. Structures of formation at the level
of the Order and of the Province

Interdependence of identity and formation

10. The identity of our Order, as described above, is translated into action in the religious consecration of the individual friars, in the local fraternities and in the provinces, and it is also the result of a sound formation (25).

A. Structures at the level of the Order

Ratio formationis of the Order

11. The Ratio formationis of the Order is a normative document, to be renewed whenever required by the changing circumstances of the times and the Church's new guidelines.

Ministers

12. Those with direct responsibility for formation are every individual friar, the local ministers, the ministers provincial and the minister general; thus they foster this dimension of our life at every level of their responsibility.

The general formation director

13. The general formation director �is the coordinator of the spiritual and intellectual development of the Order (26) and he has the following responsibilities:

- to coordinate ongoing formation in the Order
- to provide assistance and materials for formation in the provinces
- to send material that is useful for formation to the provincial formation directors
- to help the provinces in choosing institutions for advanced degrees and in welcoming our          students in the fraternities of the Order
- to coordinate the work of the General formation commission
- to organize meetings of those in charge of the provinces' vocation ministry and formation directors either at the level of the Order or at the level of the inter-provincial conferences.
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25 Cf. cn 578; the appendix contains the essential bibliography of supplementary texts useful for formation in the charism of the Order.
26 SG 156; cf. Const. 201.

General formation commission

14. The general formation commission is composed of the general director for formation and the provincial formation directors. They meet every two years.

Their tasks are:

- to collaborate with the ministers provincial in regard to formation programs
- to review the Ratio formationis of the Order, see that it is being put into practice, and update it when necessary.

Collaboration among the provinces

15. The provinces, the vice-provinces and the delegations collaborate with one another in formation; this collaboration is stipulated by agreements made by their respective councils.(27).

B. Structures at the level of the province

The Ratio formationis of the province

16. The Ratio formationis of the province is a normative document that
regulates the organization of formation in the province (28).

Each province, vice-province and delegation is required to draw up its own Ratio formationis, in accordance with the Constitutions, the General Statutes and the Ratio formationis of the Order, according to their own traditions and the requirements of their cultural, social and ecclesial environment.

The province's ratio can provide for, if necessary, collaboration with other religious institutes. (29).

When it has been drawn up, the Ratio formationis of the province is to be approved by the minister provincial with the consent of his council and sent to the general council for confirmation (30).
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27 Cf. SG 8.
28 Cf. SG 6.
29 Cf. CICLSAI, Instruction Collaboration among institutes information, 1999.
30 Cf. Con&. 207, 3.

The provincial formation director

17. The provincial formation director is a very important person in the life of the province; his task is to organize, animate and coordinate all of initial and ongoing formation, according to the guidelines of the provincial council.

The provincial prefect of studies

18. The province may designate a prefect of studies if it feels this is necessary. His task is to ensure that the formation includes the dispositions of the Church, the Order and the province (31); he takes particular care to see to it that studies are in harmony with Franciscan tradition and helps in the harmonization of the theological, apostolic and professional formation.

The responsibilities of the provincial prefect of studies can also be fulfilled by the provincial director of formation.

The provincial formation commission

19. Given the complexity and importance of formation, each province and vice-province (delegation) must appoint a formation commission, which must include at least:

- the provincial formation director - the provincial prefect of studies
- the director of the friars in temporary vows - the director of novices
- the director of postulants
- the provincial director of vocation ministry (32).

20. The commission's main tasks are as follows:

- to collaborate with the provincial council
- to harmonize the annual programs of initial formation and evaluate how they are being put in to practice
- to draw up the ongoing formation programs
- to propose initiatives and content concerning formation
- to amend, if necessary, the Ratio formationis of the province.

Advanced degrees

21. As much as possible, friars are to be encouraged to study for advanced degrees, under the mandate of the provincial Council (33), taking into consideration how they serve our charism and our apostolic activities.

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31 Cf. SG 17.
32 Cf. FNO, p. 9.
33 Cf. SG 15.