OFFICIAL NAME
Fraternity of Charles de Foucauld
ACRONYM
FCF
ESTABLISHED
1991
HISTORY
FCF was established at Bayonne, France, by a group of women of 20 nationalities who had shared a long experience of the Jesus Caritas Fraternity (today a Secular Institute). It is one of the branches of the spiritual Family that arose from the charism of Charles de Foucauld, centring on Jesus, his "beloved Brother", and on three aspects of our Lord’s life: his hidden life in Nazareth, his stay in the wilderness, and his three-year ministry. Recognised at diocesan level in 1991, in 1992 FCF became a member of the General Association grouping together the Charles de Foucauld Fraternities which draw on his teachings in order to update them so that they meet the demands of the age, harmonising contemplative life with missionary activity extended to the poorest sections of society. On 1 December 1998 the Pontifical Council for the Laity decreed recognition of the Fraternité Charles de Foucauld as an international association of the faithful.
IDENTITY
FCF is an association of lay women wishing to live in virginity according to the charism of Charles de Foucauld, as a vocation and as a state of life taken on and offered. Incorporated into the local Church, they are committed to discerning God’s plan in events and in history, and to deepening God’s project in their lives; living in the world following the example of the Family of Nazareth; adopting a simple way of life in solidarity with the poor, and meditating assiduously on Holy Scripture, and in particular on the Gospel.
ORGANISATION
The fundamental cells of the FCF are the "base fraternities", small groups of six and seven members. The base fraternities in one country or group of countries make up regions animated by regional teams. The International Team is elected by the international General Assembly, and comprises the international "Responsible" and representatives of each continent. Its task is to safeguard fidelity to the charism of Charles de Foucauld, promote communion within the Fraternity, and to implement the guidelines laid down by the International General Assembly, the decisionmaking and supreme governing body of FCF composed of the outgoing International Team, the delegates elected by the grassroots, and the members of the new International Team.
WEB SITE
http://www.charlesdefoucauld.org
HEADQUARTERS
Fraternité Charles de Foucauld
Hocquart 2217, apto. 9
Montevideo - Uruguay
Email: ammv@adinet.com.uy
