Sharing more than just prayer time

Little by little, around Pierre Goursat and Martine Laffitte, the founders, a small group of people who wanted more than just a prayer group was formed. In 1974, a small residential household of three men, including Pierre Goursat, was set up near Paris. This was the beginning of the “Fraternity of Jesus”.

The group started to grow little by little with people coming from the Paris prayer groups and beyond.

In September 1976, a retreat during three weeks (in the evening and the weekends) gathered about forty persons. Almost all were going to join the community life which had already begun. The first commitments in the Emmanuel Community took place in 1977. The Community life (with households,weekends, companionship ) with the fundamental graces of Community (Adoration, Compassion, Evangelization), was built up little by little in a climate of praise and love for the Church.

At the same time, the Emmanuel Community discovered Paray-le-Monial. Sessions started to be held there every summer. Pierre wanted to make Paray accessible again for all people: a simple and close love overflowing from the open heart of Jesus on the Cross. This message finds its place in the tradition of Paray, with the Charismatic Renewal and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

Praise, Eucharistic Adoration, and a joyful and participative liturgy once again attracted crowds to Paray, and contributed to the revival of evangelisation.

Finding a name for the community

In December 1972, the place in which Pierre Goursat and Martine Catta where leading the prayer group became too small. They thought it was an opportunity to make two groups. One group would be a place to deepen the faith and the other would be a place of welcome new people. This division meant to keep the same spirit and the same unity: "it would be necessary to find a name”.

In early March 1973, Françou and Geneviève, two girls from the prayer group, were talking and Geneviève cited a passage from the prophet Isaiah, which she had read earlier that day : "That is why the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the young girl is pregnant. She is going to give birth to a son and we shall call him Emmanuel. "

Françou suddenly understood that the name of the Community had to be ‘Emmanuel’. A little while later she met a religious sister, who used to come to the prayer group, and she said to her happily: “Well I have found the name. It’s …” – “Emmanuel” said the sister even before Françou had the time to finish.

As for Martine, she reacted, saying : "Ah ! I understand now why by opening the various Bibles, I always had the following text : "The Virgin will conceive and will give birth to a son and we shall call him Emmanuel" it was the citation taken from the book of Isaiah and used once again in the beginning of St. Matthew’s Gospel (Mt 1, 23).  Pierre was deeply touched by the words “we shall call Him Emmanuel, which is translated as GOD with us.” He said “Emmanuel, it is God who is always with us, God who fights with us and who goes ahead of us in this fight.”

When the name was announced, it was unanimously welcomed and recognized with joy. A whole grace and a whole destiny were inscribed in it. Since this day, the protection of Mary never left Emmanuel.