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OCDS Provincial Statutes
for the Washington Province of the
Immaculate Heart of Mary
This is the text of the Statutes approved by the General Definitory December 19, 2009
I. WITNESSES TO
THE EXPERIENCE OF GOD
[Cf. Const., Section III]
1. Secular Carmelites are faithful members of the Catholic Church who are called by the Holy Spirit to “live in allegiance to Jesus Christ” [cf. Const. #3]. They seek evangelical perfection and union with God in the Order of the Teresian Carmel for his greater Glory and the good of his Church. In response to that call, members willingly submit to the “gentle yoke” (Mt. 12:30) of obligations and commitments contained in The Rule of St. Albert, our Constitutions and our Provincial Statutes.
2. Practicing Roman Catholics, who are in full communion with the Church may be admitted to the Secular Order provided they are:
a) at least 18 years of age,
b) able to provide a current official Church copy of their Baptismal Certificate,*
c) able to provide some documentation showing proof of a valid marriage in the Catholic Church, where applicable.
d) not already members of any other group that requires promises or vows
*Note: Alternative, approved documentation may be necessary if this document is not available.
Daily Life
1. The foundation and essence of our vocation is prayer. Therefore in imitation of our Blessed Mother Mary and heeding the call of Jesus, her Son, to “pray always without becoming weary” (Lk. 18:1) Secular Carmelites will seek union with God and strive to live in the constant awareness of his presence.
They ought to :
a) Practice mental prayer for at least 30 minutes each day in an atmosphere of interior silence and solitude.
2. Secular Carmelites will unite their prayers with those of the universal Church by participating in the Church’s liturgical celebrations.
a) Morning and Evening Prayer of The Liturgy of the Hours are to be prayed each day. The praying of Night Prayer is highly encouraged.
b) They will seek, within the limits imposed by their secular state, to participate in daily Mass whenever possible. When attendance at daily Mass is not possible, reflection on the scripture readings of the day is encouraged.
3. Called to continual conversion, Secular Carmelites will seek to identify and place before God any obstacles and impediments to union with him. Confident in God’s loving mercy, they will:
a) Engage in a daily examination of conscience, ideally just before retiring or at the beginning of Night Prayer.
b) Participate frequently in the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Penance).
4. The early hermits on Mount Carmel, following in the footsteps of our Lord and of our Holy Father Elijah, sought the solitude of the desert to pray and to listen for the “still small voice”(1 Kings 19:12) of the Holy Spirit. Echoing this practice and tradition, Secular Carmelites are encouraged to:
a) Attend at least one retreat per year – preferably a Carmelite and/or community retreat when possible.
b) Participate in days of recollection.
c) Where possible, retreats and days of recollection may be cooperative efforts involving more than one Community.
Community Life
1. Our Carmelite vocation is lived out in community. Communities shall meet at least monthly allowing sufficient time for:
– prayer
– formation
– socializing/fellowship
– business meeting.
2. Every Secular Carmelite will strive to place the good of the community and fraternal charity above self-interest and will give the community meeting primacy of place in the ordering of his/her schedule. The desire and ability to attend community meetings are signs of an authentic vocation.
3. The Secular will:
a) faithfully attend monthly meetings *
b) share in the duties and responsibilities of the community as designated by the local council
c) participate, in some way, in the Community apostolate.
*Note: Absences should be for serious reasons and in accordance with the local community’s attendance policy.
4. The local council has the responsibility of determining an attendance policy. This should include minimum attendance requirements for participation in community elections and maintaining active status on the community roster.
Forms and Days of Self-Denial (Abstinences, fasting and acts of self-denial)
Secular Carmelites will strive to live lives of simplicity and gentle austerity, witnessing to the joy of embracing the Gospel in its fullness.
1. In addition to the days of fasting and of abstinence proper to the Church of the USA and responding to the encouragement of our bishops “to prepare for each Church festival by a day of particular self-denial, penitential prayer and fasting” (NCCB Pastoral Statement “Penitent-Discipline” to the US, Washington, DC, 1966) and to our Carmelite traditions, unless excused by reasons of illness or age, we will observe the following:
a) Members will fast on the Vigils of the following feast days:
St. Joseph the Worker May 1 Our Lady of Mount Carmel July 16 The Prophet Elijah July 20 St. Thérèse October 1 Holy Mother St. Teresa of Jesus October 15 All Carmelite Saints November 14 Holy Father St. John of the Cross December 14
b) For a sufficient reason, the above special fast days may be anticipated.
c) Anticipated fast days should never involve fasting on Sundays or Holy Days (cf. CCL 1249-1253).
Remembrances for Our Beloved Deceased
1. Secular Carmelites should remember the deceased members of the entire Order in their daily prayers, especially on the Feast of All Souls of the Carmelite Order (November 15).
2. On the death of a Community/group member, the community:
a) will have a Mass offered for the deceased member;
b) The community may also choose from the following:
– attend Mass together;
– pray the Liturgy of the Hours – Morning or Evening Prayer;
– pray the Rosary or other suitable prayers.
3. Each member of the community will do one of the following (if possible):
a) attend the vigil and/or funeral Mass;
b) have a Mass offered for the deceased member;
c) participate in a Mass and receive Holy Communion for the deceased;
d) pray the Liturgy of the Hours Office for the Dead – Morning or Evening Prayer.
4. Each community shall maintain an updated record of its deceased members. At the death of a member, notification shall be sent to the Main Office, ordinarily within two months of the member’s death. [cf. Const. #54].
5. Ideally each person in Carmel should designate beforehand what family member should be contacted on the event of their death and what involvement the community should have at the wake and funeral. Members are encouraged to inform their families regarding:
a) his/her wish to have the Secular Carmelites notified of their death;
b) burial in the habit as a Secular Carmelite, namely the large brown ceremonial scapular;
c) having the initials “OCDS” included on his/her headstone.
II. SERVING GOD’S PLAN [cf. Const., Section IV]
1. The mission of the Discalced Carmelite Order is to know God that he may be known. Secular Carmelites, in response to the Church and the Order are to set about spreading Carmelite spirituality in concert with the Friars, to address the need in the Church and the world for authentic spirituality and prayer as found in the teachings of St. Teresa, St. John of the Cross and St. Thérèse, while living in the world.
2. Each community shall strive to have a community apostolate that should flow from their collective life of prayer. Every member would be expected to contribute to the community apostolate in whatever manner possible. The implementation of formation in the apostolate is the responsibility of the local council.
3. In considering an apostolate, the community has to be sensitive to the interests, abilities, talents and personal circumstances of its members. Developing a community apostolate is a community exercise. The community apostolate would mature and evolve commensurate with the formation, maturity and willingness of a community and need not be static and permanent.
4. The apostolate, whether individual or communal, when it involves the charism of the Order or its name and reputation or the reputation of the local community is always conducted:
– within the guidelines of these Statutes [Const. #58i]
– in coordination with Provincial Council [Const. #57] and National Council [Const. #60], and
– in collaboration with the Provincial Superiors [Const. #26.]
With Mary, the Mother of Jesus [cf. Const., Section V]
1. Our primary devotion to Mary is to regard her as our model of contemplative life and emulate her in our mental prayer and our practice of the presence of God.
2. In addition to placing our entire spiritual life under her guidance and care, the Secular Order recognizes the value of praying:
– the Rosary,
– the Angelus,
– the Litany of Loretto and
– other devotions recommended by the Church such as those found in Lumen Gentium, Marialis Cultus, and Redemptoris Mater.
External Signs of Membership in the Secular Order
1. The large ceremonial brown scapular shall continue to be given as the habit of the Secular Order at the time of admission to formation.
2. A smaller brown scapular or the scapular medal is worn for everyday use.
3. The ceremonial scapular may be worn at community meetings as well as at ceremonial and/or liturgical events of the Carmelite Order. It may also be worn at events at which the Carmelite Order wishes to be recognized (e.g. wakes and funerals of our members). Local councils shall determine which events fall into this latter category.
4. If a member wishes to be buried with the ceremonial scapular, worn externally, prior arrangements should be made with the member’s family or closest associates.
III. FORMATION IN
THE SCHOOL OF CARMEL
[cf. Const., Section VI]
1. A person seeking to explore a vocation to Carmel should attend several meetings as determined by the local council prior to being considered for entrance into Aspirancy.
2. There are three periods of formation:
a) Aspirancy – ordinarily at least 12 sessions
b) Preparation for First/Temporary Promises – 24 sessions
c) Preparation for Definitive Promises – 36 sessions
Discernment of a vocation is a joint responsibility of the candidate and the community.
3. Communities are responsible to follow the Formation Outline of the Province.
4. Extensions to complete the courses of study may be deemed necessary by the local council for the good of the candidate and the community. If further time is required to prepare for the Definitive Promise, the member must renew their Temporary Promise, for a specific period of time as determined by the local council.
5. When making the Temporary Promise, the candidate’s baptismal name is retained to which the candidate may add a devotional name.
6. For serious reason, and with the permission of the local council and the Provincial Delegate, any of these periods of formation may be shortened.
7. Ongoing Formation is the responsibility of each definitively professed member; and should be pursued in accordance with the Formation Outline of the Province [cf. Const. #34].
IV. ORGANIZATION
AND GOVERNMENT
[cf. Const., Section VII]
Vows [cf. Const. #39]
1. Any member who feels called by God to make vows of chastity and obedience for life may petition the local community council not less than three years after the Definitive Promise.
2. After receiving the consent of the local council and in consultation with the Provincial Delegate, the member will then begin a year of prayerful discernment under the supervision of the Director of Formation.
3. After the year of discernment, the member will send a formal letter to the local council and their Provincial Delegate requesting consent to make vows.
4. When making its decision, the local council should consider the following criteria:
a) The member must be faithful in living the Promise
b) The member’s life must be suitably ordered with any major irregularities resolved so that there is no hindrance to grace
c) The member must have a healthy, balanced integration of the experience of God in their daily life and there should be an evidence of growing in charity, detachment and humility
5. Initial discernment and formation for this call will generally include the assistance of one’s own confessor or spiritual director, the local council of the community, and/or the Spiritual Assistant to the community.
6. The vows are strictly voluntary. The promise makes one a full member of the Order. The vows do not change that status. The member must be informed of both the serious obligation and the rich graces associated with the vows. As with the promises, they are not binding under pain of sin.
Note: “The vows entail a greater moral responsibility. The binding force of these vows, freely made, renders more visible the bond of love and commitment that exists between Christ and His Bride the Church.” Found in Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites: Legislative Documents for the OCDS: Ritual for Promises and Vows. 10 December 1990, p.78 (see especially n. 7.)
The Local Council and Provisions for its Actions
[cf. Const. #46-#47,
#51-#52]
1. The local council shall meet regularly, at least four times per year. It shall meet more often if the needs of the community and formation require it.
2. Those attending local council meetings are obliged to respect the confidential nature of these meetings and of all council business.
3. Recognized parliamentary procedure (e.g. Robert’s Rules of Order), shall be observed by the council to the extent it applies, with the following provisions:
a) A quorum for the purposes of a valid action requiring a vote by the local council shall be three council members.
b) A majority of voting members present will be required to carry an action.
c) The President will cast an additional vote when necessary to break a tie. If a tie vote occurs in the absence of the President the vote shall be set aside until the President can be in attendance.
d) Voting by letter or proxy is invalid.
4. The local council may establish additional duties for individual councilors, and appoint other members of the community to assist in those duties, within the scope of the Constitutions and these Statutes.
5. For very serious reasons, the local council may seek the dismissal of a member from the Order. All such requests must be:
a) Documented and notarized
b) Submitted to the provincial
c) In accordance with Canon Law.
Resolving Conflicts in Local Communities [cf. Const. #43, #47]
1. The local council should make every effort to promote fraternal charity and reconciliation. Community members should be urged to seek grace in prayer for the resolution of disputes within the community. Correction should be dispassionate and administered with patience and kindness. (Matt. 18: 15-17; Const. #46, #47, #51; Canons 1713, 1733.1.)
2. In working to resolve a dispute, the President along with another member of the local council, or two councilors, should meet privately with the individual or individuals in an attempt to understand the issues involved. The local council may seek the advice of the Provincial Delegate. Parties must be given the opportunity to explain their viewpoint and to defend themselves if necessary.
3. The local council shall keep a confidential written record documenting the process and actions taken to resolve a dispute, attempting to accurately represent the positions of those involved. E-mail does not constitute a valid written record.
4. Preference should always be given to resolving disputes rather than imposing a solution, although the imposition of a solution may be necessary in some cases. [Const. #47]
5. In cases in which the local council is unable to bring about a resolution of a dispute, or is itself involved in a dispute, the President is obliged to bring the matter to the attention of the Provincial or his Delegate [Const. #43, #47g].
The Canonical Establishment of Local Communities
[cf. Const. #42,
#49]
There are three types of groups recognized by the Order in the Washington Province. All groups in the Washington Province must have approval from the Provincial. The different types of groups/communities are:
1. Group in Discernment: They have obtained the Provincial Delegate’s permission to meet, and the Delegate has appointed a Formation Director. The Provincial Delegate may replace the Formation Director at his discretion.
2. Recognized Community: The Provincial Delegate has given permission to form a Recognized Community and has appointed a Spiritual Assistant. The council, President, and Director of Formation serve with the approval of the Provincial or his Delegate. The Provincial or his Delegate will inform the community when he feels it has reached sufficient maturation to hold elections. [Juridical Personality, Cf. Const. #40] Prior to canonical status, the Provincial or his Delegate may replace any officers or members of the council at any time.
3. Canonically Established Community: In order for a Recognized Community to pursue Canonical Establishment, they must show maturity as a community and demonstrate the determination, cohesiveness and compatibility as a group to move toward that goal. Once a community has discerned that they want to become canonically established, they are to follow the requirements in #49 of the OCDS Constitutions and work closely with the Provincial Delegate throughout the process. Upon approval by the Provincial Delegate, the required paperwork will be submitted to Rome by the Main Office.
Local Community Elections [cf. Const. #50-#55]
1. Community elections shall be held every three years in April, prior to the Provincial elections of the Friars. The newly elected council members shall assume their duties at the end of the meeting in which they are elected. To preserve freedom of the newly elected council, all other offices (Secretary, Treasurer, Formation Director, et al.) shall be vacated at the end of the same meeting.
2. To be eligible to vote a member must be:
a) Professed;
b) on the community roster;
c) in compliance with the Community attendance policy regarding voter eligibility.
3. Notification of elections:
a) The date of triennial elections will be announced at the January meeting of the election year.
b) Members eligible to vote, but not present at the meeting, will be notified.
4. Elections of the community President and three Councilors shall be conducted in accordance with recognized parliamentary procedures[1] with the following particular provisions:
a) A nominating committee of at least two professed members[2] shall be appointed by the council and the names of the committee members shall be announced to the members at the January meeting prior to the election.
b) The nominating committee shall select qualified nominees for each office who have consented to serve if elected. Priests, deacons and seminarians are ineligible to hold a community office. For the office of President there should be two or three nominees, all of whom have made their Definitive Promise [Const. #51]. For the offices of the three Councilors there should be a minimum of three nominees (1 for each council position).[3]
c) Only professed members of the community may serve as members of the council. A candidate does not have to be present at the election to be on the ballot.
d) The report of the nominating committee (list of nominees) shall be presented to the members at the February meeting prior to the election. With their consent, nominees for President may also be nominated for the Councilor ballot if not elected as President.
e) Nominations may be made from the floor at the February meeting prior to the election. Nominations must be seconded by another member of the community and must have the consent of the nominee. Those nominated from the floor will be considered as on the election ballot unless they contact the President to decline within two weeks of their nomination. Floor nominations will not be accepted at subsequent meetings.
f) Voting is to be by secret ballot. A quorum[4] of eligible voting members being present, a majority[5] shall be required for election.
g) Voting by letter or proxy shall be invalid.
5. Election of the President
a) The Spiritual Assistant shall invoke the guidance of the Holy Spirit. In the absence of the Assistant, this shall be the duty of the incumbent President.
b) In order that leadership qualities be developed in our communities, the President’s stay in office should be limited to two consecutive terms, after which postulation[6] shall be required from the Provincial Delegate.
c) Election of the President shall be on a separate ballot from Councilors and shall precede election of the Councilors.
d) If a majority is not reached by any nominee on the first ballot, the names of the two nominees receiving the highest number of votes shall be placed on the second ballot. If there is a tie on the second ballot, there shall be a third and final ballot. In the event of a tie on the third ballot, seniority of profession shall be the determining factor of the election. If there is a tie on the profession date, then seniority by age shall determine the election.
6. Election of the Local Council
a) The outgoing President shall preside at the election and conduct it in accordance with item 4 above.
b) In order that leadership qualities be developed in our communities, Councilors shall not serve more than two consecutive terms without postulation from the Provincial or his Delegate. Smaller communities may extend the Councilors’ stay in office beyond the ideal.
c) The three incumbent Councilors shall count and verify the votes. The Secretary shall record them in the minutes. However the incumbent local council may exercise its discretion as to whether the actual tally of votes should be made public.
d) The three Councilors shall be elected on a single ballot. Each voter shall enter on the ballot their first, second, and third choice for Councilor. First choice candidates shall receive three points in the tabulation of the ballots. Second choice two points, and third choice one point.[7] The candidates with the three highest points shall be elected Councilors. The candidate with the fourth highest points shall be elected Councilor only if the Director of Formation is elected by the local council from one of its newly elected members.
e) In case of ties, the same rules outlined in 5d above apply.
7. Elections – Appointments by the Local Council
a) In the election of the Formation Director [Const. #50 & #53] the local council may not elect a priest or deacon as Formation Director.
b) The procedure for appointing the Secretary and Treasurer should be left to the discretion of the newly elected local council. The secretary for meetings of the local council does not necessarily need to be the same person who acts as secretary for the community. [cf. Const. #54-#55]
Footnotes:
[1] e.g. Robert’s Rules of Order.
[2] Those who have made at least their First/Temporary Promise.
[3] Article 52 states that Councilors “generally are community members with Definitive Promise, [but] in particular circumstances, members with First/Temporary Promise can serve.”
[4] For the purposes of an election, a quorum is defined as the voting members present, provided notice of the election was given in accord with item 3 above.
[5] A number greater than half the valid votes cast.
[6] “Postulation” is a petition (to the Provincial or his Delegate) for exemption from the normal policy.
[7] To eliminate confusion the nominating committee should prepare ballots in advance that look like this:
First choice: ________________________ [3 points]
Second choice: ________________________ [2 points]
Third choice: _________________________ [1 point]
Keeping of Local Records [cf. Const. #54]
1. A basic community register must contain, at a minimum, a membership roster with contact information. It should also contain a record of admissions, promises, vows, dismissals, deaths, transfers, and devotional names taken, if any. This information must be kept as a common document that can easily be reviewed. The community register is required for elections, and should be readily available for local council meetings, and visitations. An updated copy of the membership roster shall be submitted to the Main Office annually in the format requested.
2. Other records to be maintained are: minutes of all meetings, formation forms, copies of ceremonial forms, attendance records of community meetings and formation classes, and a book of Promises and Vows.
3. It is strongly recommended that the community maintain duplicate records or take other measures to safeguard community records.
Local Community Finances [cf. Const. #55]
1. The Province will collect annual dues from members. These dues will be submitted as one combined donation from each local community to the Main Office no later than January 31st of each year.
2. Each community will submit via their treasurer, along with their annual dues, the yearly financial report required by the Constitutions 55. This report will itemize the income and outflow of community funds.
3. A portion of the dues submitted to the Main Office will be contributed to help support the International OCDS Office.
4. A portion of the dues submitted to the Main Office will also support the financial needs of the OCDS Provincial Council.
5. Community councils may solicit dues from their membership to support local needs. The local council will determine the amount of this contribution, as well as the timing and method by which such donations are made.
6. The local council shall also determine how the local community will assist the needy in their community, including those unable to contribute local or provincial dues, and those unable to finance retreats or other community functions.
7. OCDS members and communities are encouraged to support the outreaches of the Order financially, such as the Carmelite missions, our seminarians, and apostolic works of OCD and OCDS, including the apostolate of one’s own community; and the Provincial Congress.
The Division of Local Communities [cf. Const. #58g]
1. Communities are encouraged to maintain a size that is conducive to fostering a spirit of cohesion and fraternal charity.
2. When communities become too large there is a danger of losing a sense of intimacy that exists in smaller communities. There should be serious thought given on the part of the local council as to whether those characteristics of fraternal charity and intimacy are being impeded by the size of the community. Once a community reaches sixty active members, the local council should consider the possibility of dividing the community. However, a community may at any time discern a need to divide. If a decision is made to divide, the local council must contact the Provincial Delegate. The Provincial is the sole authority to divide OCDS communities.
Extended Members [cf. Const. #51, #56, #58b]
1. OCDS members who have been definitively professed and can no longer attend meetings will be regarded as extended members. Communities will endeavor to maintain contact with their extended members keeping them informed of community events so that they may participate if possible.
2. Extended members who transfer within our Province may apply to be received by the nearest community.
3. A definitively professed individual who has moved into an area with no OCDS members may also petition the Provincial Delegate to start a group in formation under the Delegate’s supervision.
Transfers Within and Between Provinces and Between
TOC and OCDS
1. Transfer of members within the Province [cf. Const. #47]
a) Recognizing that transfers may be necessary due to a move or for other serious reason, an application to transfer is made to the original member’s community after a sufficient time has passed for the new community to evaluate the potential new member. It is strongly recommended that a sufficient time for this evaluation be from three to twelve months.
b) The transfer form will be provided by the new community. This form will be sent to the member’s current community. The pertinent dates of the individual’s progress in Carmel will be stated, verified and signed by the appropriate member of the council, usually the President or Formation Director. Other official records may be copied and sent along to the receiving community. Until the member’s application has been approved by the receiving community the individual remains a member of his/her original community.
c) This form is then signed by the receiving community and a copy is given to:
– The member
– The Provincial Delegate’s Office
– The Main Office
– The releasing community
2. Transfer of members between provinces
a) Secular Carmelites fall under the juridical authority of the province in which they reside. When a member from another province moves into the Washington Province the same transfer procedures as noted above in item 1 shall apply.
b) When a member of the Washington Province moves into another province, that member shall contact the provincial office of the new province for information and procedures for transferring into that province. The transferring member can obtain contact information for the U.S. provinces from the Main Office of the Washington Province.
3. Transfers of members from the TOC to OCDS *
a) The community council of the Lay Carmelites shall communicate the type of formation the candidate has already received. A letter of recommendation from the former community is to be highly expected.
b) It is to be assumed that formation in the OCDS will be necessary even if the candidate has been definitively professed in the TOC.
c) The Lay Carmelite, who desires to become a Secular Carmelite, will retain his/her TOC profession during a discernment period of directed OCDS formation agreed upon by the receiving local council.
d Formation time frames and curriculum will be established by the Formation Director and the other members of the receiving local council.
e) Upon completion of formation and after a period of discernment to be established by the receiving local council a letter of release from the Provincial Delegate of the TOC must be obtained. The first promise confers membership in the OCDS.
*Note: In line with the statement of the OCDS National Council of the United States of America, as approved by Fr. Aloysius Deeney, OCD, General Delegate on September 27, 2005.
The OCDS Provincial Council [cf. Const. #57]
1. The primary responsibility of the OCDS Provincial Council is to assist in formation and the apostolate [cf. Const. #57]. The Provincial Council shall also serve as a consultative body to the Provincial Superior and be of service to the Secular Order.
2. The OCDS Provincial Council shall consist of at least seven definitively professed members of the Washington Province, with the right to vote on matters pertaining to our Secular Carmelite life in the Province in accordance with the Constitutions, these Statutes and the direction of the Superiors of the Order. Each shall serve a six-year term. Councilors may not serve two consecutive terms. The terms will be staggered, three councilors beginning to serve a six-year term, and three years later four councilors beginning service for a six-year term.
3. The OCDS Provincial Council shall meet at least once a year in person; with other meetings to be conducted by conference call or by other electronic means as needed. The President of the Provincial Council will normally coordinate all activities and preside at the meetings of the PC. The PC may be contacted through the Main Office of the Province.
4. A quorum for a valid vote consists of one less than the current active membership of the Provincial Council, one of whom must be the President or the presider. This number shall never be less than four. If a deciding second ballot is needed in order to break a tie vote, the President will cast the deciding additional ballot.
5. The Provincial Council shall elect a President and elect or appoint a secretary every three years. The Secretary may be someone from outside the council.
6. Confidentiality is required of all members and the outside secretary, if there is one.
7. The Provincial Council will replace any councilor who can no longer serve, unless these events occur during the last year of the individual’s term.
8. The Provincial Council, in concert with the Provincial Delegates, shall appoint three representatives to the National Council. At least one appointee must be a member of the Provincial Council. At least one appointee must not be a member of the Provincial Council.
9. The three Provinces of the United States currently intend that there be a National Congress held every ten years. Our jurisdiction shall normally hold a Provincial Congress every three years. The OCDS Provincial Council coordinates with this Congress.
10. The Provincial or his Provincial Delegate may appoint other consultative bodies to assist with the tasks of the Provincial Council.
11. At the invitation of the Provincial or his Delegate, members of Provincial Council or others deemed suitable may be asked to visit a local OCDS community. The purpose and scope of such a visitation shall be at the sole discretion of the Provincial or his Provincial Delegate.
12. Each local council, after prayerful consideration and consent of the nominee, may place the name of a qualified person in nomination to serve as a Provincial Councilor for a six-year term. Trusting in the guidance of the Holy Spirit, all Provincial Councilors shall be selected by lot (Acts 2:15-26) from candidates submitted by local councils, the Provincial or his Delegates or the Provincial Council.
a) Nominations shall be submitted by mail to the Main Office.
b) The Provincial Council will announce the beginning of the nomination process to the presidents of local communities in January of the normal triennial election year. This announcement will include a restatement of the qualifications needed by the candidate contained in these Statutes, as well as the appropriate nomination form. Communities wishing to place a name in nomination must do so no later than March 15th. Names received after this date at the Main Office, will not be included in the pool of candidates.
c) To be considered for nomination a prospective Provincial Councilor must be definitively professed, demonstrate spiritual maturity, and have served as a President, Councilor, Director of Formation, or any combination thereof, for a minimum of three years. Candidates should exhibit leadership and organizational skills as determined by the OCDS Provincial Council
d) Any nominee who is not fully qualified to serve will be ineligible and will not be placed in the pool of candidates.
e) Councilors will be selected from the pool of candidates at the Pentecost Eucharist celebrated by the Provincial or his Delegate. After invoking the Holy Spirit, the celebrant of the Eucharist shall draw the names of the replacement Councilors in the presence of two members of the current Provincial Council, one of whom should ideally be the President. The names of the new Councilors shall be announced as they are drawn. They will then be posted on the Washington Province web site and announced in the Clarion.
f) Newly selected Councilors’ terms shall be effective at sundown of Pentecost Sunday.
The Main Office of the Province
1. The Province shall have a Main Office to assist the Provincial, his Delegates, the OCDS Provincial Council, and the OCDS of the province in their duties.
2. The Main Office will be the central repository for official records relating to the OCDS of the province.
3. Local councils, usually via their secretaries, shall take responsibility to submit official records to the Main Office in a timely manner. In the case of paperwork relating to the change in status of members or prospective members, this will normally occur within two months of such change in status.
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