Greetings to all Lay Fraternities in Asia and Australia, from the participants of the first Nazareth meeting in Korea. We have come from Lay Fraternities in Sri Lanka, Australia, Philippines, South Korea, India and Japan in order to live in the spirit of Charles de Foucauld discovering the uniqueness and diversity of Asian life, and to build friendships and networks in the region. The presence of Asiri from Sri Lanka has shown us that continuity of the fraternity is possible. We also saw the possibility of starting new fraternities, for example in the Philippines.

In the beginning there were doubts about the success of the meeting. However we experienced that it was God who called us together moving us from being passive towards being active, calling others into the process.

We have explored and shared from our different perspectives on the themes of:

• Brother Charles - a Prophet for our time;
• The Lay Fraternity of Charles de Foucauld and the peace in the world: Becoming peace-makers;
• Wealth and Poverty: sources of conflicts, violence and war

in preparation for the International Assembly in Arusha, Tanzania 2006. The spirituality of Brother Charles proposed that we live in a style proper to our capacities. This means to find our proper responsibility in Christian life.

We have deeply appreciated the presence of our International Coordinator Marianne Bonzelet facilitating and guiding us with empathy and wisdom. Little Brother Vincent Corpet accompanied us in the spiritual journey and with his gentle presence. Miong-Jun and the Korean team have worked hard to welcome us with hospitality and organized the day to day functioning of the meeting. This has helped us to feel at home and many thanks for their efforts. In our meeting there were spontaneous signs of God’s blessings and providing us with gifts.

Finally, we the participants, together with those who were not present during the Nazareth Week in Korea, need to move forward to develop links between our fraternities in the region.

Lee, Jung-Lee, Korea; Lee, Ok-Ja, Korea; Hong, Theresa, Korea; Lee, Jung-IL, Korea; LB Vincent Corpet, Korea; Angelina Bucu, Philippines; Asiri Fernando, Sri Lanka; Paul Ramchandra, India; Michele Cochrane,, Australia; Kawaguchi Masateru, Tada Kazuo, Sakiyama Tomoji, Japan;  Pak, Miong- Jun, Korea, Asian Representative in the International Team; Marianne Bonzelet, International Responsible, Germany

Final Message

This 8th Assembly brought together a group of 100 delegates in Arusha, Tanzania from July 20-31. Present in 49 countries, the members of the Lay Fraternity had been invited during these last three years to share their experiences on

"The prophetic and apostolic vision of the Lay Fraternity Charles de Foucauld yesterday and today".

Rich with these contributions, the 34 delegations in attendance stemmed from five continents, were set to listen to each other despite the diversity of situations geographically, linguistically, culturally and socially...

The inspiration of the writings, the numerous times of meditation and celebration and the sharing of life brought us together mutually, at times conscious of our limitations but also of the unity and friendship that Jesus was able to bring forth among us as Brother Charles liked to live these.

We have been witnesses to our African brothers and sisters through their ecclesial life and the visits to projects linked to the education of children, the promotion of health (treatment of AIDS), the advancement of women,...

In the wake of Brother Charles, we intend to be artisans of peace in our families, our neighborhoods, countries and continents. Like the entire civilian populations, several fraternity members pay a heavy cost due to war and oppression in several countries (Congo, Lebanon, Iraq...). 

The courage and the outcry of women, at once concerned about having a dignified
place in society and yet victims of the worst acts of violence in certain places, have been heard by the assembly. The growing disparity between rich and poor, the distribution of goods, poor governance,... degrades creation and should provoke us individually and collectively to take action with all who struggle for a world where peace and justice are at the core of relations between men, women, peoples and countries.

Aspiring to live with love and God's tenderness as our Brother Charles was able to do, the assembly invites the fraternities to accept some challenges:

• to deepen the spirit of listening and friendship in our fraternities in order that each, from where he comes, be recognized and contribute to the growth of the fraternity.
• to pursue, with clarity and in mutual respect, dialogue with Muslims, other religions and non-believers. 
• to intensify collaboration with all the associations that struggle for the respect and advancement of all men, the promotion of peace and the equitable distribution of wealth.
• to create community in the environment where we live by being open and ecumenical, by respecting each  culture in its diversity.
• by following Brother Charles, to live fully with the love of Jesus while deepening his message, taking time for prayer, sharing Eucharist, encountering each other in a brotherly way.        

We thank the International Team for having been able to [increase] the Fraternity during these past six years as one of the 19 branches of the association of Charles de Foucauld* and for having placed the Little Guide**, a useful tool, at the disposal of the responsibles, for all fraternities and especially for those who are beginning.

Arusha (Tanzania), July 2006

* see booklet:  Charles de Foucauld and his Spiritual Family, which came to be published by the Association of Spiritual Families of Charles de Foucauld; Rome; Pentecost, May 15, 2005.

** Little Guide of the Lay Fraternities of Charles de Foucauld; Arusha, Tanzania; July 2006.