| Covenant Community within the Cenacolo Community Launch |
| Date: 17-09-2007 |
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Covenant Community within the Cenacolo Community Launch
On Sunday 23rd September about 120 members of the Cenacolo Community gathered together at the Our Lady of Sorrows Chapel and Convent for the launch of the new Covenant Community meetings. The highlight of the morning was the praise and worship session. It was explained to the members that the aim of the covenant community is not only to strengthen the sense community amongst the covenant, but in turn to strengthen the whole Cenacolo Community as one group with a common mission.
In a short address by the leader, the members were reminded that the community and all its 'cells' were to breathe prayer since ‘in the New Covenant, prayer is the living relationship of the children of God with their Father’ (CCC 2565)
Furthermore, the Covenant Community needed to work on relationships since they do not just happen. The members are called to create a sense of belonging and caring because 'When community is just a place of work it is in danger of dying because its is primarily a place of communion.' (Jean Vanier, Community and Growth p.25). Those present were also reminded that ' He who loves community, destroys community; he who loves the brethren, builds community' (D. Bonhoeffer)
Finally if people come together to care for each other, it is because as a group it has a mission: to give life. A community becomes truly and radiantly one when all its members have a sense of urgency in their mssion. ( Jean Vanier, Community and Growth p.90).
After the talk the members divided into small groups to discuss ideas on how in practice community 'can work better'. Afterwards, they has the opportunity to share their ideas with the whole group.
At the end of the morning the group was very encouraged by its first meeting and together with the rest of the Cenacolo Community, we look forward to what God has in store for us in the coming years.
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