Mechernich – On the anniversary of the death of its founder Mother Marie Therese, the Ordo Communionis in Christo gathered on 11 April for an evening information event in the refectory of the Mechernich Motherhouse.

Superior General Jaison Thazhathil presented the profile and way of life to 45 members and sympathisers of the community, which he, spiritual director Padre Rudolf Ammann ISch and deacon Manfred Lang had developed over almost a year and a half from texts by the foundress and the statutes approved by the church in 2018.

It was about the proprium (identity) of the Communio in Christo as a "way for all people", about the vow of charity and the accompaniment and guidance to membership. Prior to this, Father Matthew Owusu-Manu from Ghana, chaplain to the Ghanaian community in Düsseldorf, celebrated Holy Mass in the house chapel together with the Superior General and numerous other religious, priests and faithful.

Lawyer Jürgen Fahnenstich, member of the chapter of the Communio in Christo, opened the information evening with a legal classification of the Communio as an ecclesiastically recognised association ("Consociatio christifidelium privata") within the meaning of the Codex Iuris Canonici (Canon Law, can. 322). He also addressed the concept of a religious order that Mother Marie Therese had repeatedly given to her foundation - and which led to the association with its headquarters in Mechernich fighting in vain for decades to obtain ecclesiastical recognition as a classical religious order.

"Lay people, the pilgrim people of God"

Deacon Manfred Lang, the Deputy Superior General, spoke about the theological characteristics of the foundation, which sees itself as an offer to all people, explicitly not just Catholics, to pray, live and act in a community with Christ at the centre. And this is independent of the respective context of life. The Ordo Communio in Christo is open to families, religious, priests and especially to the so-called laity as the pilgrim people of God.

Superior General Jaison Thazhathil, the superior of the community, showed how one can become a member in two steps over a year and a half (postulancy and novitiate). He described the family as the nucleus of Christian life and missionary transmission of faith: "Without the family, there wouldn't even be a pope." The mindset and attitude of a life of love for God and one's neighbour - much more than the framework conditions defined in the "Profile and Way of Life" - are the key to belonging to the "Community in Christ".

Padre Rudolf Ammann, the spiritual guide of the Mechernich community and spiritual director of the entire international Ordo Communionis in Christo, finally opened up future prospects in Mechernich and worldwide at the information event.

The foundress' concept of the order, which goes far beyond its definition in canon law, was also important to him. The new name of the community, "Ordo Communionis in Christo", proposed by canon law professor Dr Rüdiger Althaus as part of the recognition of the statutes, was therefore extremely important. It reflects the membership of all people who accept the offer to belong to the "rank" ("Ordo") of those who belong to Christ.

Nevertheless, in the spirit of the deceased first Superior General Karl-Heinz Haus, the Chapter continues to endeavour to become a new form of consecrated life approved by the Holy See in accordance with canon 605 CIC, said Chapter member Jürgen Fahnenstich.

Introduction in India and Rome

Following the presentations, there were a number of questions and encouragement from the audience about the current position of the community worldwide. "Profile and Way of Life" has already been translated into several languages and sent to the several hundred members worldwide together with the constitution.

Superior General Jaison Thazhathil is travelling to his home country of India at the end of the month and will present the Proprium to bishops, religious and those interested in becoming members. His deputy, Manfred Lang, plans to speak with Sister Lidwina and the Ugandan priest Patrick Mwanguhya about the profile and way of life of the Ordo Communionis in Christo at a meeting of Communio friends and sympathisers in Rome at the beginning of May.

pp/Agentur ProfiPress