– An International Catholic Lay Community on 5 Continents, in 67 countries and right here in Ireland
– Founded in France (1972) by Servant of God Pierre Goursat & Martine Lafitte-Catta after experiencing the Outpouring of the Holy Spirit
– 11,500 community members that includes 265 priests and 200 consecrated men & women
‘Look, the virgin is with child and will give birth to a son whom they will call Emmanuel, a name which means God-with-us.‘ (Matthew 1: 23) The vocation of the Emmanuel Community is to be missionary in the heart of the world, to reveal the presence of the God of Love, “Emmanuel”, “God-with-us”, to everyone we encounter.
Recognition of the Emmanuel Community
In 1992, the Holy See recognised the community as a Private Associate of the Faithful of Pontifical Right, and was recognised as a Public International Association of the Faithful on 20th July 2009. In 2012, the community celebrated a jubilee year that began with the opening of the process of beatification of Pierre Goursat, co-founder of the Community. 2016 saw the opening of the process of canonisation for Daphrose and Cyrien Rugamba, a married couple from the community who lost their lives in the genoside in Rwanda. The creation of a Clerical Association of the Emmanuel Community was approved in 2017.
The three pillars of the Emmanuel Community are Adoration, Compassion and Evangelisation.
Adoration
Through the commitment to daily Eucharistic Adoration, our hearts are transformed, leading us to share in the compassion of the Heart of Jesus for the world, and therefore commit ourselves to evangelisation as an expression of our Baptism. The experience of the Outpouring of the Holy Spirit common to all members of the Community, strengthens in us in the grace of Baptism and Confirmation, convinced that He who is Emmanuel God-with-us, accompanies us, as we strive for holiness in everyday life.
Emmanuel in Ireland
The Irish Emmanuel Community is spread throughout Ireland. It is made up of people of different backgrounds, occupations and ages, married and single, along with two Irish Emmanuel Priests.
Activities include mission and evangelisation with parishes and in cities. A special emphasis is placed on participation in World Youth Days and pilgrimages to Paray Le Monial, France, the Shrine of the Sacred Heart
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Find out more about the Emmanuel Community, its birth and development, the common call of community members, and its mission and place within the Catholic Church on the International website of the Emmanuel Community
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To get more information on the Emmanuel Community in Ireland or find out about activities in your area, please email info@emmanuelcommunity.ie
Pierre Goursat & Martine Lafitte Catta and her husband Herve Marie
