Because of its geographical position, during the Cold War Austria found itself between two 'blocks' that confronted one another. Its neutrality was well known. Because if this Vienna was a place for contacts and was a true crossroads for peoples and ideas. And it is so still today, even more, in the globalised world. The fraternity of Vienna has existed for thirty years. Herbert has lived there from the beginning. He recently, he retired from work.  read more »

"I lost my heart to Jesus of Nazareth”

I was invited to speak about “Nazareth”. Of course this is a central theme in the spirituality of Charles de Foucauld: like Brother Charles we were all seduced by the “human face of God at Nazareth” as Emmanuel Asi says. So I guess that nothing new will come out, but it is always important to come back to the source and drink fresh water.

My presentation will have 3 points:

- to look at how Charles de Foucauld’s conception of Nazareth evolved;

- to go through the Gospel and see what does that mean for Jesus to be a man of Nazareth;

- some fundamental attitudes to enter into the dynamic of Nazareth.  read more »

The fraternity in London has existed since 1973. It has changed its face and location several times. Thierry has lived there from the beginning. He has worked mainly at L'Arche, an institution that welcomes and works with handicapped people. Today Thierry lives near this community where he continues to provide a service in line with his abilities.  read more »

The Little Brothers of Jesus live in small communities (of 2 to 4 brothers) sharing the daily life and work of ordinary people.  read more »

Jean Michel has lived most of his life in a fraternity in Algeria. He has now been 5 years in a community helping people who need rehabilitation...  read more »

Concarneau is a fishing port in the west of France from where several brother sailors, including Michel, have sailed, mainly in the trawling lanes on the high seas. Several brothers have retired, others have died. Michel is not a priest but throughout his life as a sailor he has been drawn to the Eucharist, the sign of a life given to following Jesus. Reference to the Eucharist occurs often in the text and creates the unity of this testimony.  read more »

The first fraternity in the north-east of France (in Roubaix) dates from 1951. The one on Lille was founded in 1982 in a neighbourhood with a very large presence of foreigners. mainly Moroccans. For a long time that brothers in Lille have quite often welcomed young men who want to make a stay in a fraternity, as well as foreign brothers who come to France to learn French. Since 2006 it has also been a fraternity for brothers who are students.  read more »

After his twelve years of service to the General Fraternity, Marc has gone back to Lille where he lived before that. He is in fraternity with a group of four young brothers who are studying theology. Last November, Marc found a job. Here he describes his first impressions and his first encounters. What does one say when God is silent? Invisible but present, He sends us message after message.  read more »