THE CHEMIN NEUF COMMUNITY The Chemin neuf CommuniTy Who We are 2 Community Manifesto 5 Disciples of Christ, consecrated couples and celibates 6 Priests, religious, celibate sisters 8 Ecclesial and Civil Recognition 10 The Chemin Neuf Communion; Chemin Neuf Youth 12 our spirituality 14 I g n a t i a n S p i r i t u a l i t y a n d B a p t i s m i n t h e H o l y S p i r i t 1 6 A Passion for Unity 1 8 The International Ecumenical Fraternity 2 0 A Pentecost for Unity 22 “Solely because of Christ and the Gospel” 24 In the Shadow of the Spirit 26 our Missions 28 Cana, serving couples and families 30 Youth Mission 14-18s; Student Residences 32 Young Adults Mission 18-30s; JET – Volunteers abroad 34 Serving the local Church and parishes 36 Spiritual Retreats; Siloam Mission 38 Those who look International Formation Centres 40 University courses in Theology and Philosophy 42 to Him “Christ is our peace” 44 “ are radiant to contact us 46 Psalm 34:5” to support us 49 Front cover: The Chapel of the Adoration at the Mary of Nazareth Centre, entrusted to the Community 1 Who We are he Chemin Neuf Community is a Roman Catholic TCommunity with an ecumenical vocation, which grew out of a prayer group in Lyon, France, in 1973. It currently has around 2000 members in over 30 countries. Couples, families and celibates, men and women, have chosen the adventure of community life to follow Christ poor and humble, in order to serve the Church and the world. 2 - Who we are 3 community Manifesto From the letter to the ephesians 2:13-16 BECAUSE JESUS “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were HAVING LOVED HIS OWN WHO WERE IN THE WORLD, LOVED THEM TO THE END... far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken ecause Jesus gave up his own life to give us life, Because divisions between Christians Bin turn, aware of our weaknesses, irrevocably, are the greatest obstacle to evangelisation; down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility we commit our lives. because we believe that the prayer of Jesus Christ between us. He has abolished the law with for unity will be fulfilled: “that they may all be one Because whether consecrated in celibacy so that the world may believe”, its commandments and ordinances, so that or in the bonds of marriage, together, Orthodox, Protestants, Catholics, he might create in himself one new humanity we want to live according to the love of God, without waiting any longer, we follow in place of the two, thus making peace, and we count on the help of our brothers the humble path of shared daily life. and sisters to grow in faithfulness. might reconcile both groups to God in one Because we want to be available body through the cross, thus putting to Because the hunger of those who starve to death for the abundant harvest and death that hostility through it.” has no other solution than our sharing, because Jesus saves the world through his obedience, because simply to dream of a more just and fraternal we choose to live in obedience society is not enough, and submission to each other. from now on, starting today, we share our possessions. Because the power of the Holy Spirit is able to match the problems of our time, and the strength of God Because our children enjoy living in community triumphs through our weakness, while many other children are poor and naked, we ask the Holy Spirit for help. because we want to pass on to them the sense and reality of a better world, Because of our love for each other, we choose to share our inheritance. because joy is more powerful than anything else, we commit our lives Because truth is priceless in the Chemin Neuf Community and lies are all too common; to serve the Church and the Unity of Christians. because truth sets us free, we try to be true to one another. Community Manifesto – Life commitments at St John’s Cathedral, Lyon, Easter 1986 4 - Who we are 5 Disciples of Christ, couples and celibates committed within the same community ne of the particular characteristics of the Chemin Neuf OCommunity is undoubtedly the commitment and life together of couples and of brothers and sisters consecrated in celibacy. “The Christian family is also Couples live either in a “Common Life Fraternity” (in one of called to experience a new the Community houses) or in a “Neighbourhood Fraternity” (in and original communion the same area). In each case, families have their own living which confirms and per- space (apartment or house) in order to preserve the privacy fects natural and human of the family and of the couple. communion. In fact the grace of Jesus Christ (...) Although commitment in the Community concerns only is by its nature and interior parents and not their children, these are often the first to dynamism ‘a grace of fel- benefit from the spiritual journey their parents undertake, lowship’, as Saint Thomas and are the joyful witnesses of the fellowship that is possible Aquinas calls it.” between people of different ages, cultures and Christian John Paul II, denominations. Familiaris Consortio, n° 21 The majority of married members of the Community are gainfully employed and are involved in society in various ways. In apostolic life, couples and celibates share responsibilities together. In this way, within the Community, work and prayer unite lay-people and celibates in order to serve the Gospel together. 6 - Who we are 7 Priests, religious, consecrated celibate sisters serving the Church mong its members, the Community includes In Chemin Neuf houses the pattern of each Aover 300 brothers and sisters who day is guided by the prayer of the Community We want to be free by our VOW have chosen celibacy for the Kingdom: – personal prayer and Morning Prayer, Mass OF CHASTITY in order to be ‘all things approximately 150 priests and brothers (generally at midday), Evening Prayer and silent to all people’. Consecrated to God in undergoing formation for the priesthood and prayer or Adoration of the Blessed Sacrement. celibacy, we want to be ‘men and women 150 sisters. for others’. The celibate brothers and sisters serve, as do These celibate brothers and sisters live the couples, in retreat centres, parishes, student “We want to be free by our VOW OF according to the three evangelical counsels residences, various sessions and formation POVERTY in order to be unburdened of chastity, poverty, and obedience, which programmes run by the Community. for evangelisation. Owning nothing, but are explicitly written into their Constitutions. sharing everything, we shall be closer to the ‘poor’. The priests and brothers are part of the Chemin Neuf Religious Institute (see p. 10); the celibate We want to be free by our VOW OF sisters are members of the Public Association OBEDIENCE in order to respond more of the Christian Faithful. deeply to Christ’s calling, by being available for any kind of mission work. As well as the three vows of Chastity, Poverty and Obedience, to our religious “It is the Spirit who awakens the desire to respond fully; it is he who profession is attached a specific desire guides the growth of this desire, helping it to mature into a positive to make an offering of our lives so that response and sustaining it as it is faithfully translated into action; it is he the prayer of Jesus may be answered who shapes and moulds the hearts of those who are called, configuring ‘FATHER MAY THEY BE ONE SO THAT them to Christ, the chaste, poor and obedient One, and prompting THE WORLD MAY BELIEVE’. (Jn 17:21) them to make his mission their own.” John Paul II, Vita Consecrata, n° 19 Constitutions of the Institute, n° 22 and n° 25 8 - Who we are ” 9 Ecclesial and Civil Recognition I. canonical statutes II. civil statutes n 20th April 1984, the Chemin Neuf he Chemin Neuf Community applies for OCommunity was established as a Public Tcivil recognition in the countries where it Association of Christ’s Faithful by Cardinal is called to be. The type of recognition varies Albert Decourtray, Archbishop of Lyon. according to national legislation. On 24th June 1992, the Chemin Neuf Institute In France, for example, the Community is for priests and religious was erected as a a legally recognised Congregation, as Clerical Religious Institute of Diocesan Right decreed by the Minister of the Interior on by Cardinal Albert Decourtray, Archbishop of 23rd July 1993, and having appeared in the Lyon. parliamentary bulletin (Journal Officiel) on 30 th July 1993. Its registered office is at 49, Montée On 14th September 2009 the Chemin Neuf du Chemin Neuf, 69005 Lyon, France. Institute was recognised as a Clerical Religious Institute of Pontifical Right In the UK it is a Registered Charity (N° by Cardinal Franc Rodé, Prefect of the 1084546). Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, at the Vatican In Canada, the Community is a Canadian in Rome. The motherhouse is Hautecombe Registered Charity. Abbey (73310 Saint Pierre de Curtille, France). The opening of new houses of the Public Association of the Christian Faithful or of the Religious Institute takes effect in dioceses in a way that is consistent with Canon Law, in agreement with the local Bishop.