Isolate Formation
Article 56 of the Constitutions states "Members of the Secular Order, who for reasons of distance, age, or illness cannot participate in the regular meetings of a community, remain members of the Secular Order and, under the authority of the Provincial Delegate, are to be associated to a particular community. It is the responsibility of the President of the community to establish contact with those members and the responsibility of these members to maintain contact with the community." How do the community and the isolate maintain this contact? Section II of the Provincial Statutes on isolates states very clearly how to go about this contact. Also past issues of the Flos Carmeli have included some suggestions. It should be noted that the Provincial Statutes distinguishes isolates as those who live at a distance from community, whereas those unable to attend meetings due to age or illness are dealt with separately and not referred to in the Statutes as isolates. This article is focusing on isolates living at a distance.
We have encountered some problems when names of isolates are sent to a community.
When a community receives notice from the Provincial Council of an isolate being assigned to them, the President needs to get in touch with the isolate. One of the first pieces of information needed by the community is the status of the isolate. Are they definitively professed or still in formation? If definitively professed, when was the Promise taken, are they keeping up with changes evolving in the Order and are they committed to their Promise? If they have not been in touch with changes, they should be given the Rule of St Albert, the Constitutions and our own Province Statutes. They should at least attend one meeting to meet members of the community and the Local Council should evaluate if catch up formation is needed. Formation guidelines will be followed in all cases of catch up. Isolate should give the community a record of their status in the Order (use the transfer form provided on the OCDS provincial website). We know as stated on the Provincial Statutes that the President may delegate the monthly contact to any member of the community who is willing to assume that responsibility.
Discussion of Spiritual Conferences, readings and discussions during on going formation may be shared on tape or written as a summary of activities and sent by the contact person to the isolate. As stated in the Statutes could be done either via snail mail, telephone or e-mail. Again, the isolate is encouraged to meet with community at least once a year.
Isolates requiring initial formation should be handled the same as if they are coming to meetings regularly. First it should be established where they are in formation. If starting as aspirant, the Aspirancy Application and Acceptance form should be given and once filled should be submitted to the Formation Director. It would be advisable contact person in this case is the Formation Director. The Local Council of the community should be seriously involved in discernment of the isolate during formation. Section XXI Formation Guidelines should be followed. Isolates in formation are required to attend a meeting once a year preferably at annual retreat.
Sometimes Provincial Council will refer an isolate transferring from another Province. All of the same things mentioned above apply - use the transfer form to obtain records from the previous community, assess the level of formation received to date. A definitively professed isolate should receive on going formation in the new community. Those on formation should be asked to submit information about the formation program taken from former community and formation continues following the formation guidelines.
If a member of the community is moving to a place where distance to nearest community is a problem, then the Provincial Council should be contacted about placing that person on isolate status. This person will then be assigned to a community per the Constitutions and Statutes (please note that it is the Provincial Council, not the Local Council that determines isolate status).
I hope this will clarify some questions on handling our isolates.
We have encountered some problems when names of isolates are sent to a community.
When a community receives notice from the Provincial Council of an isolate being assigned to them, the President needs to get in touch with the isolate. One of the first pieces of information needed by the community is the status of the isolate. Are they definitively professed or still in formation? If definitively professed, when was the Promise taken, are they keeping up with changes evolving in the Order and are they committed to their Promise? If they have not been in touch with changes, they should be given the Rule of St Albert, the Constitutions and our own Province Statutes. They should at least attend one meeting to meet members of the community and the Local Council should evaluate if catch up formation is needed. Formation guidelines will be followed in all cases of catch up. Isolate should give the community a record of their status in the Order (use the transfer form provided on the OCDS provincial website). We know as stated on the Provincial Statutes that the President may delegate the monthly contact to any member of the community who is willing to assume that responsibility.
Discussion of Spiritual Conferences, readings and discussions during on going formation may be shared on tape or written as a summary of activities and sent by the contact person to the isolate. As stated in the Statutes could be done either via snail mail, telephone or e-mail. Again, the isolate is encouraged to meet with community at least once a year.
Isolates requiring initial formation should be handled the same as if they are coming to meetings regularly. First it should be established where they are in formation. If starting as aspirant, the Aspirancy Application and Acceptance form should be given and once filled should be submitted to the Formation Director. It would be advisable contact person in this case is the Formation Director. The Local Council of the community should be seriously involved in discernment of the isolate during formation. Section XXI Formation Guidelines should be followed. Isolates in formation are required to attend a meeting once a year preferably at annual retreat.
Sometimes Provincial Council will refer an isolate transferring from another Province. All of the same things mentioned above apply - use the transfer form to obtain records from the previous community, assess the level of formation received to date. A definitively professed isolate should receive on going formation in the new community. Those on formation should be asked to submit information about the formation program taken from former community and formation continues following the formation guidelines.
If a member of the community is moving to a place where distance to nearest community is a problem, then the Provincial Council should be contacted about placing that person on isolate status. This person will then be assigned to a community per the Constitutions and Statutes (please note that it is the Provincial Council, not the Local Council that determines isolate status).
I hope this will clarify some questions on handling our isolates.
--Amelia H. Wilken OCDS
posted by john michael at 1:23 AM
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