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Fraternity of Charles de Foucauld
Centered on Jesus and 3 Aspects of His Life
VATICAN CITY, 16 MAY 2006 (ZENIT)
Here is the description of the Fraternity of Charles de Foucauld, which appears in the Directory of International Associations of the Faithful, published by the Pontifical Council for the Laity.
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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, centering 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.
Recognized 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, harmonizing contemplative life with missionary activity extended to the poorest sections of society.
On Dec. 1, 1998, the Pontifical Council for the Laity decreed recognition of the Fraternité Charles de Foucauld as an international association of the faithful of pontifical right.
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.
Organization: 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 decision_making and supreme governing body of FCF. The latter is composed of the outgoing international team, the delegates elected by the grass roots, and the members of the new international team.
Membership: FCF has about 360 members, in 25 countries in Africa, Europe, North America and South America.
Publications: Boletín de Enlace, published three times a year
Web site: www.charlesdefoucauld.org.
Headquarters:
Fraternité Charles de Foucauld
Hocquart 2217
apto. 9
Montevideo — Uruguay
E-mail: ammv@adinet.com.uy
© Copyright 2006 — Libreria Editrice Vaticana [adapted]
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