OFFICIAL NAME
Communauté de l’Emmanuel
ESTABLISHED
1972
HISTORY
The Emmanuel Community was founded in Paris, France, by Pierre Goursat (1914-1991) and Martine Laffitte-Catta based on the experience of a Charismatic Renewal prayer group. Its original members were all laity, married or single, but today its membership includes priests and laity committed in celibacy for the Kingdom who have matured their vocation through their experience within the Community. In 1975, the establishment of the Community at Paray-le-Monial, where the apparitions of the Sacred Heart took place, marked a major milestone in its history and the beginning of its spread worldwide. Since the 1990’s an increasing number of bishops have entrusted the Community with missions running parishes, turning them into authentic centres of fraternal life and evangelisation. The association is registered with CHARIS International. On December 8th 1992 the Pontifical Council for the Laity granted a decree recognising the Emmanuel Community as an international association of the faithful.
On August 15th 2017 the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life approved modifications to the Emmanuel Community’s statutes, on the occasion of the erection, by the Congregation for the Clergy, of the Clerical Association of the Emmanuel Community.
IDENTITY
The Emmanuel Community is named after the passage from Scripture, "Behold, a young woman shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Emmanuel" (Is 7: 14; cf. Mt 1: 23), and its members are people called by God to live together to serve and proclaim Jesus Christ. The heart of the Community is the Fraternity of Jesus, whose members offer themselves to the Lord in consecration and total availability for mission. The life of the Community and its members - who adore in the world - revolves around the Eucharist. This roots all their actions in contemplation and opens them up to Christ’s compassion, and so leads them to serve the poor, the sick, the lonely and the marginalised; and to service in evangelisation, announcing the Risen Lord to all people who suffer because they do not know God and do not know that they are loved by God. The formation offered to members of the Community, called to be missionaries primarily in their own environment, gives priority to the spiritual dimension and to formation for community life and evangelisation.
ORGANISATION
The Emmanuel Community is governed by a General Moderator, assisted by an International Council whose members are elected for five years, renewable for one consecutive term; by the Council of the Clerical Association of the Emmanuel Community, whose members are also elected for five years, renewable for one consecutive term; and by the Council of the Fraternity of Jesus, whose members are appointed by the General Moderator.
Before a person enters the Community, there is a time of discernment (period of welcome and discernment). Once this stage has been completed, members renew their commitment each year. Consecration in the Fraternity of Jesus is a life-long commitment.
WORKS
The Community has established numerous missions of compassion and evangelisation. For couples and families (Love and Truth), for the poor (FIDESCO, Le Rocher…), for young people (prayer groups, schools of mission, forums, student residencies, schools…). The Community serves the Church through music (Emmanuel Music) and media (evangelisation publications, film production and distribution with SAJE, publications for formation with Editions de l’Emmanuel, and He is Alive). The Community invites all people to experience God’s love through the sessions organised each year in Paray-le-Monial and in many other sanctuaries and diocese across the world.
PUBLICATIONS
He is Alive!, tri-monthly formation magazine
L’1visibile, monthly evangelisation magazine
WEB SITE
HEADQUARTERS
Communauté de l’Emmanuel
91 Boulevard Auguste Blanqui
75013 Paris (France)
Tel. [+33]1.58107410
Email: info@emmanuelco.org
