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September 14, 2008

Making God’s kingdom present Lay ecclesial movements enhance spiritual life.

By Joyce Duriga

EDITOR

There’s something in the Catholic Church for everyone. That is particularly the case with lay ecclesial movements. Do you have a devotion to Mary and the apparitions at Fatima? Check out the Blue Army. Feel called to enrich your marriage and the marriages of others? You might try Worldwide Marriage Encounter.

These type of movements, which date back to the founding of the church, were bolstered by the Second Vatican Council’s “Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity” that gave clear support for laypeople to organize around different charisms (gifts from the Holy Spirit) and take a more direct role in manifesting the kingdom of God on earth. In simple terms, lay movements bring together Catholics of various walks of life who feel called to a certain type of ministry or spirituality. They do not include lay religious orders such as the Secular Franciscans or the personal prelature Opus Dei.

Lay ecclesial (meaning “relating to the church”) movements received notable support from Pope John Paul II who saw them as part of the “new evangelization” in the second millennium. Pope Benedict XVI has continued in his footsteps.

Cardinal George met recently with area lay ecclesial movements to share thoughts on the pope’s recent U.S. visit and what words the pontiff had for them (see sidebar below).

The right of the laity to form and join these movements is enforced in the church’s Code of Canon Law. The Pontifical Council for the Laity, the part of the Vatican Curia that works with lay movements, states that “this right and the resultant freedom to form and join associations do not depend on the benevolence of the pastors, but are rooted in the nature of the human person and stem from the ontological reality of the sacrament of baptism which creates a fundamental equality between all the members of the people of God.”

They are meant to help members of the church move forward in holiness and to bring God to others.

“In our increasingly secularized world, in which the faith of many is sorely tested, and is frequently stifled and dies, the movements and the new ecclesial communities, which are bearers of unexpected and powerful newness, are ‘the response, given by the Holy Spirit, to this critical challenge at the end of the millennium, [a] providential response,’” the pontifical council states.

The following movements have a presence in the Archdiocese of Chicago, according to the 2008 archdiocesan Directory:

Ambassadors of Mary/Pilgrim Virgin Apostolate

(773) 622-9542, ambassadorsofmary.com, [email protected]

Founded in Chicago in the 1950s, this movement arranges visits of “pilgrim statues” of Mary to homes and parishes. The practice of venerating these traveling images of Mary began in Fatima as a way that those who couldn’t make it to the pilgrimage site in Portugal could have an image of Our Lady of Fatima come to them.

World Apostolate of Fatima/Blue Army

(708) 489-6055, www.wafusa.org, [email protected]

The World Apostolate of Fatima/Blue Army is a worldwide association of the faithful, responding to the requests that Mary made at Fatima, Portugal, in 1917, to help save souls and bring peace to the world. It promotes eucharistic prayer and the rosary, as well as penance.

Catholic Charismatic Renewal Center of Chicago

(708) 209-1199, Charismatic Renewal (Spanish) (312) 738-1080

Typically, small groups meet regularly to pray and share their faith, and individuals have a personal experience called “the baptism of the Holy Spirit.” The lay-directed movement is characterized by obedience to the pope and a biblically rooted devotion to the Eucharist and to Mary.

Christian Family Movement

(847) 392-5986, www.cfm.org, [email protected]

Christian Family Movement is a national network of parish/neighborhood small groups of Catholics and their families. Parents meet regularly in one another’s homes or at the parish. Through the use of programming and the dynamics of group interaction, Christian values are reinforced and families are encouraged to reach out in action to others.

Communion and Liberation

(312) 696-4458, www.clonline.org, [email protected]

Communion and Liberation’s purpose is the education to Christian maturity of its adherents and collaboration in the mission of the church in all the spheres of contemporary life. It began in Italy in 1954. Its name synthesizes the conviction that the Christian event, lived in communion, is the foundation of the authentic liberation of man. Communion and Liberation is today present in about 70 countries.

Couples for Christ

(773) 202-5051, www.couplesforchristglobal. org, [email protected]

Couples for Christ (CFC) is a movement intended for the renewal and strengthening of Christian family life. The members have committed themselves to the Lord and to one another so that they may grow in maturity as men and women of God and fulfill their primary vocation of raising up families under the lordship of Jesus Christ and for the service of the kingdom of God. This worldwide movement began in Manilla in 1981.

Cursillio Movement

(708) 636-5060, www.chicagocursillio.org, www.natl-cursillo.org, [email protected] Cursillio (Spanish or English retreat experience) (312) 226-0340

Cursillo is a Spanish word meaning “short course.” The full title is Cursillo de Cristiandad, meaning a short course in Christianity. The Cursillo method has three components – retreat weekends, group reunions and ul- treyas – helps individuals understand the calling of all Christians to be Christian leaders.

Focolare Movement

Women (773) 536-7873, Men (708) 848-6576, www.focolare.org

The Focolare Movement (Work of Mary) is an international organization that promotes the ideals of unity and universal brotherhood. Founded in 1943 in Trent, northern Italy, by Chiara Lubich, the Focolare is present in 182 nations. The movement’s name comes from the Italian word for “hearth” or “family fireside.”

Holy Name Society

(312) 648-1021, www.holynamesociety.info

Approved by Pope Pius IV in 1564, the Holy Name Society promotes the honor and glory of God and the personal sanctification of its members by acts of love and devotion to the most Holy Name of Jesus.

L’Arche Chicago

(708) 863-1273 [email protected], www.larchechicago.org

L’Arche is an international federation of communities where men and women with developmental disabilities and those who choose to share life with them live, work, play and pray creating a home together. It is present in 31 countries. It was founded in France in 1964 as a Catholic organization but is now ecumenical.

Legion of Mary

(773) 235-9327, [email protected]

Founded in 1921, the Legion of Mary is a worldwide apostolic organization of Catholic men and women who place themselves under the banner of Mary. With the inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit they strive to develop greater spirituality in their lives while practicing the spiritual works of mercy. Their purpose is for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

Marriage Encounter

(773) 775-5827, Ron.Sue.Battaglia@ sbcglobal.net

(See Worldwide Marriage Encounter)

Militia of the Immaculata

(847) 367-7800, [email protected], www.marytown.com

The Militia of the Immaculata is a worldwide evangelization movement founded by St. Maximilian Kolbe in 1917 that encourages total consecration to Mary as a means of spiritual renewal for individuals and society. The movement employs prayer as the main weapon in the spiritual battle with evil.

Neocatechumenal Way

(773) 927-3137, www.camminoneocatecu menale.it

“In the line of renewal inspired by Vatican Council II, the Way places itself at the service of diocesan bishops and parish priests as a way to rediscover the sacrament of baptism, and for ongoing education in the faith,” states the Neocatechumenal Way’s charter documents as published by Zenit News Service. “The Way carries out this task by proposing ‘to the faithful who so desire to revive the richness of Christian initiation in their life, through the route of catechesis and conversion.’” Founded in Spain in 1964 and present in 105 countries, “the Neocatechumenal Way is an instrument for the Christian initiation of adults who are preparing to receive baptism.”

Regnum Christi

(630) 257-3075, [email protected], www.regnumchristi.org

Regnum Christi is a movement of lay Christians, men and women, of all ages, who, out of fidelity to the pope and motivated by love of God and their neighbor, wish to make the Gospel a reality in their own lives and in society, responding to the universal call to holiness and to the apostolate. The movement, which is connected with the Legionnaires of Christ and which began in 1959, aims at reviving its members’ awareness of their baptismal vocation, offering them the means to help them live the Gospel in the daily circumstances of their personal, family and professional lives. It is present in 34 countries.

Schoenstatt

(312) 397-9542, [email protected], www.schoenstatt.de

Founded in 1914, the Apostolic Movement of Schoenstatt aims at forming personalities and Christian communities that are capable of freely supporting God’s plan in the world in which they live. The formation proposed by the movement is based on self-education, faith in Providence, the pursuit of holiness in daily life and readiness and willingness to be instruments in God’s hands. The particular purpose of the movement is the spiritual renewal of Christians, which is achieved by promoting educational and religious activities and social projects, also in cooperation with other ecclesial movements. It has a presence in 42 countries.

Semilla

(773) 427-5970, www.semilla.org

Founded in 1986, Semilla is a U.S.-based, Latin American Christian leadership development organization. It serves strategic Christian leaders by offering mentoring, teaching, training and technical assistance from a Biblical perspective.

Worldwide Marriage Encounter

(630) 372-2123, [email protected], www.wwme.org

Worldwide Marriage Encounter offers a weekend experience designed to give married couples the opportunity to learn a technique of loving communication that they can use for the rest of their lives. It's a chance to look deeply into their relationship with each other and with God. The emphasis of the Marriage Encounter weekend is on the communication between husbands and wives.