OFFICIAL NAME
Associazione Via Pacis
ALSO KNOWN AS
Via Pacis
ESTABLISHED
1979
HISTORY
The Via Pacis Association originated in Riva del Garda (Trento, Italy) on 3 June 1979 when a married couple, Eliana Aloisi and Paolo Maino, had a providential meeting with a priest, Don Domenico Pincelli. They felt the same calling to start a community project for lay people that would create lasting bonds of Christian fellowship and spread God’s love in the world through their daily lives.
The charism is to bear witness to the Gospel of peace in our lives and to seek reconciled relationships with God, with ourselves, with others and with creation through our state of life and profession. Peace is the fruit of forgiveness and reconciliation that leads to joy and sharing with the poor.
On 31 January 1997, Archbishop Giovanni Maria Sartori of Trent recognised the Association at the diocesan level. His successor, Archbishop Luigi Bressan, confirmed it on 8 December 2010.
On 20 June 2003 Don Domenico Pincelli died. His spiritual legacy is sincere love for the Eucharist, for the Sacrament of Reconciliation and for Mary.
With a decree dated 8 December 2014, the feast of the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady, Via Pacis was recognised by the Pontifical Council for the Laity as an International Private Association of the Lay Faithful.
IDENTITY
The call that the laity receive to be “holy together” is perceived as a great challenge to spread the Kingdom of God in the world through their daily lives.
The members are encouraged to take their integral personal development seriously in order to become mature, coherent and well prepared Christians who can put into practice their shared apostolic responsibility in the life and mission of the Church.
By means of a journey of serenity and reconciliation with their past and the scars of life, members are to become bearers of peace.
The mission is accomplished in lives lived out in a spirit of continuing forgiveness, with primacy given to God in all things, with joy and reconciliation and the sharing of one's spiritual and material riches with others. The Gospel of peace is expressed through activities of human and spiritual development, prayer meetings, gatherings, concerts and support for people in difficulty. Major importance is given to charity. It takes the form of solidarity projects in different parts of the world that are aimed at restoring dignity to the most vulnerable through education, health care and assistance initiatives focused on self-development.
ORGANISATION
A person becomes a member of Via Pacis by entering into a Covenant after a three-year training course during which they receive guidance in experiencing God's saving love. Those who choose to give their lives to God in the Church as a lay person in the world can make a Life Covenant, thus becoming guarantors of the continuity and spread of the Via Pacis charism. If they are unmarried, they can make a Covenant of celibate life.
In addition, the Association welcomes with gratitude all those who share its aims and collaborate in its activities and projects, even without entering into the Covenant.
The Association is governed by a President and a General Council, elected by the General Assembly.
WORKS
The Association Via Pacis onlus, which has civil recognition, manages and administers works of international solidarity. It operates in 16 countries.
Via Pacis is organised in Local Communities in each area.
There is a specific sector that takes care of the artistic dimension of music, dance and singing by organising evangelisation concerts. Other sectors deal with young people, the management of special events and training weeks, and publications and social communications.
PUBLICATIONS
A quarterly magazine Sulla via della Pace; Books by authors who are members of the Via Pacis Association; Audio CDs made by the Music Sector; Training Booklets (brief and single-themed).
WEBSITE
HEADQUARTERS
Via Monte Baldo, 5
38062 ARCO (TN)
Italy
Tel. +039 0464 555767
E-mail: mail@viapacis.info
