A CATHOLIC COMMUNITY
WITH AN ECUMENICAL VOCATION
RECONCILED DIVERSITY
In the same community
“How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity.” Ps 133(132)
Couples, consecrated brothers and sisters, women and men, from different countries and different cultures have chosen the adventure of community life following Christ.
Living in the same area or under the same roof, we experience daily that sharing increases all that we have. Sharing who we are makes us more brothers and sisters.
On this humble path of shared daily life, we experience how much the meeting of our differences is a richness, especially when it goes through the challenge of reconciliation. From this communion springs the joy and celebration which are at the centre of our community.
AN ECUMENICAL VOCATION
“That they may be one” Jn 17, 21
“We dare to believe in the visible unity of the Church , and we have received a call to work for that unity with all our strength.” Constitutions p. 20
Jesus was the first to pray for unity, and we desire to make this prayer our own; we pray every day as follows: “ Lord Jesus, who prayed that we might all be one, we pray to you for the unity of Christians, according to your will, according to your means. May your Spirit enable us to experience the suffering caused by division, to see our sin and to hope beyond all hope. Amen.”
“Anything we can do together, let’s do it.” Catholics, Protestants, Evangelicals, Pentecostals, Orthodox and Anglicans, we share our daily life and carry our missions together. We do this in order to bear witness together to the love of the Father for all his children.
On this journey, we offer various ecumenical formations and we desire to involve our Churches with us and forge strong bonds with those around us.
A MISSIONARY DYNAMIC
At the service of the Church and the world
“Attached to Him, we have the courage to put all our charisms at the service of others.” Pope Francis
In response to the call of Christ and of the Church, we commit our lives to be at the service of men and women of our time, wherever the Spirit sends us and leads us: on our own street or on the other side of the world, in parishes entrusted to the Community or in professional life, in our training centres, student hostels or schools of discipleship, as well as among street children.
Together or individually, each with their own charism, we want to “be everything to everyone” and proclaim Christ. With boldness and fervour, we dare to bear witness to the fire that inspires us as we work with young people, families, professionals, retired, teenagers…
SOME NUMBERS
2,400 people are members of the Community present in 30 countries, in 80 dioceses; among them are 400 consecrated celibates, including 120 priests. About a hundred brothers and sisters pursue their philosophical and theological studies in different universities or in Chemin Neuf spiritual and community formation centres.
The Chemin Neuf Communion brings together 3,000 members who, without being community members, share the mission and spirituality of the community.
As part of its mission to young people, the Community runs 25 student hostels and organises summer festivals that bring together several thousand young people. Each year, it sends around twenty young people on a mission of international solidarity to around ten countries.
The mission to couples and families called ‘Cana’ is present in 50 countries, it brings together 5,300 couples committed to Cana Fraternity around the world. Each year, it organises more than 150 sessions and retreats for couples and families.
Since 1995, 30 parishes have been entrusted to the Community in a dozen countries.
The Community runs 8 training centres open to all and pursues the mission of different Congregations in 17 abbeys. In addition, 51 retreat centres enable community life to be lived and a base for its missions.