The National Fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order - USA >> Conference of National Spiritual Assistants (CNSA)

Conference of National Spiritual Assistants

President-in-turn of CNSA Fr. Christopher Panagoplos, TOR XtoferTOR@aol.com
CNSA Members
Fr. Jerome Wolbert, OFM jeromeofm@yahoo.com	Br. Alexander Escalera, OFM Cap. siralisander@yahoo.com
Rev. Dr. Christopher Shorrock, OFM Conv.
CNSA Emeritus: Fr. Lester Bach, OFM Cap. lbofmcap@aol.com	CNSA Emeritus: Fr. Steve Gross, OFM Conv. boccaperta42@gmail.com
CNSA Executive Secretary	CNSA Treasurer
Miriam Kennedy, OFS mekofs@gmail.com Contact for visitations and establishment documents	Mary Frances Charsky, OFS mfcharsky@gmail.com
What is the CNSA? The Conference of National Spiritual Assistants is the four spiritual assistants, one from each friar obedience (Order of Friars Minor, OFM Capuchin, OFM Conventual, and Third Order Regular), who provide assistance to the National Fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order in the United States. The CNSA is responsible for guiding all the spiritual assistants to the OFS in the United States. The President-in-Turn of the CNSA, who serves for two years, is a member of the National Executive Council of the National Fraternity.
Province and Fraternity Relationships Province chart from 2015 Annual Report [PDF] [Excel] 2018 Provincial Leadership [PDF] [Excel] Fraternities by Province [PDF] [Excel] Maps indicating Regional Fraternities having fraternities bonded to specific obediences: OFM OFM Capuchin OFM Conventual TOR
Resources for Spiritual Assistance in the United States If you are interested in becoming a Spiritual Assistant to the OFS, there is a training course, Franciscan Family Connections. For more information, see the first few pages of the book of the same title, which can be ordered using the form on the last page of TAU-USA. (TAU-USA national newsletter is sent to all professed Secular Franciscans in the United states, and is also available in digital form. Spiritual Assistance Training Program Guidelines [PDF] [Word] Statutes for Spiritual and Pastoral Assistance to the Secular Franciscan Order (2009) Koinonia (CIOFS publication) Statement from the 2010 CNSA Congress Presentation on spiritual assistance and ongoing formation from the 2009 NAFRA Meeting TAU-USA articles by the CNSA Yahoo group mailing list for spiritual assistants Canonical Establishment of fraternities: Form to be completed: [PDF] and [Word] Procedures from SA Handbook Directive from CNSA mandating spiritual assistants for fraternities prior to canonical establishment Powerpoint presentation by Kevin Queally, TOR on the role of spiritual assistants at the local, regional, and national levels, presented September 14, 2011 CIOFS Manual for Spiritual Assistance to the OFS Other CNSA Information 2008 CNSA Conference - Plymouth, Michigan Preparing to Become a Spiritual Assistant (PowerPoint) (Handouts-PDF) Notes (keyed to presentation) and discusstion questions (Word) (PDF)