INTRODUCTION

In response to the new needs of our times, a number of movements and communities have emerged in the Church; among them is The Families of Nazareth Movement (F.N.M.). This movement was begun in 1985 when groups of lay people were searching to deepen their Christian spirituality. The inspiration behind the Movement is taken from the Gospel of St Luke 2.51, where we are told that Christ was obedient to His parents, Mary and Joseph. One of the aims of the F.N.M. is to imitate the hidden life of the Holy Family in Nazareth.

During its first 5 years, this movement spread rapidly through Europe and beyond: it is now active in over 20 countries. Wherever the F.N.M. develops, it does so within the existing Diocesan and parish structure. Within its' structure, there is a moderator on the national level who with a diocesan moderator co-ordinates strategies for aiding the development and spiritual growth. There are the spiritual directors, to whose care the inner lives of F.N.M. members are entrusted. They cooperate with an animator who is a layperson chosen from a smaller group of F.N.M. members; his or her task is to lead people in parish groups by prayer and sharing of experiences, and by conducting weekly parish meetings in a way which allows God to work in people's hearts. An animator is called to serve, and the essence of the service of the animators lies in their having an attitude of trust and humility.

The world needs testimonies of Christian living. Our members are called to holiness in every day life; the aim is personal sanctification. However, the main emphasis is not on 'piety' nor on leading a devoutly religious life, but on sanctity. To meet these aims and objectives, we try to emulate the Holy Family in the ways of humility, obedience and service to others.

During the parish meetings, we share and reflect on the Bible and on the texts associated with the F.N.M.; this and spiritual direction are the pillars of our spirituality. The texts consist of the book ' Inquiring Faith' (1996) written by the Movement's founder Fr. Tadeusz. Dajczer; and the booklets which are written by an editorial team which uses works by St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, St. Ignatius, St. Faustina, and others, who are recognized and acclaimed by the Church as eminent teachers of a sound theology of the spiritual life.

Members of the F.N.M. try systematically to develop their inner life. The important elements on the path to sanctification are: full participation in the Eucharist and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament; prayer, asking God that we may recognise His will in our lives; reading and reflecting on Holy Scripture; following the way of the spiritual life, placing strong emphasis on humility, faith, and self-denial; community meetings and prayers, regular contact with a spiritual director; obeying the constant call to abandon oneself to God according to the Gospel of St. Matthew chapter 18 verse 3: "Unless you turn and become like little children, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven". Thus the frequent call to radicalism in Christ meets the aim of the New Evangelisation, which has been continually proclaimed by the Pope John Paul II.

The F.N.M. is universal. There is room in it for everyone, families and single people, priests and religious, young people, children and the sick. It does not limit itself to any particular category of people. It is a meeting place for those who have 'found God' and for those struggling with the many problems of life today. The only thing that matters is to have a desire to meet God and His mercy, and to discover His will in our lives.

FAMILIES OF NAZARETH MOVEMENT at St Columba's Parish.

There have been groups in England for over 12 years, mainly in the London area. A group was formed three years ago in St. Columba' s Parish in Gosport.

At present there are nine members and we are beginning to reach out to others. We follow the aims, which were initiated by the F.N.M., and are described in the above introduction. The aims and objectives of the Movement are to bring us into a closer relationship with Jesus and to discover His will in our lives, and to put ourselves entirely at the service of God and of His Church through our self-entrustment to our Blessed Lady. This helps us adopt on the spirituality of the Movement following the example of Mary's fiat - 'yes to God' and by practicing self-denial. Although we have Christ in the center of our spirituality, it is still a Marian Movement.

Groups meet weekly or bi-weekly as in our case; it is a time of fellowship. With other members we are encouraged to part take in day retreats during Lent and Advent as well as to go on pilgrimages to Walsingham and Lourdes or Czestochowa (on the national and international level).

So nothing is new here, except the discovery of Jesus Christ in a personal and dynamic way, which leads to a greater awareness and love of all things in Christ. "Everything is a gift", every experience of life, event hose difficult ones, provides an opportunity to grow in love for Christ. We thank God for every gift He has given us in the F.N.M., and in the Parish.

TESTIMONIALS OF THE MEMBERS.

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Last modified: 24th January 2004