not take on financial responsibility
for a consecrated virgin. More information is available from the United
States Association of Consecrated
Virgins, consecratedvirgins.org.
Lay ecclesial movements
Lay ecclesial movements are church
organizations focused on a particular
ministry or spirituality, or both. The
Vatican’s Pontifical Council of the
Laity has published an online directory of international associations of
the faithful at vatican.va. Below are a
few examples of the types of organizations that exist.
• The Cursillo Movement proclaims
that God, in Christ, loves us, and it
does so through “short courses” and
regular gatherings in small commu-
nities.
• Communion and Liberation, with
its focus on the Incarnation and the
presence of Christ “here and now,”
educates members in Christianity
and collaborates in the mission of
the church in all spheres of life.
• Focolare (Italian for “family
fireside”) aims to contribute to the
realization of Jesus’ last will and testament: “may they all be one” and so
build up fraternal relations in society.
• L’Arche is dedicated to the creation
and growth of homes, programs, and
support networks for people with
intellectual disabilities.
• The Neocatechumenate provides
continuing Christian instruction for
Catholics in small parish-based com-
munities. =
A DEACON gives a
blessing at the 2014
ordination class of
permanent deacons
in the Archdiocese of
Boston.
Enter #181 at VocationMatch.com
PHOTO B Y ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE OF BOS TON