A presence in the local Church

The Emmanuel Community facilitates activities which are appropriate to its mission, including talks, retreats, prayer groups and a wide range of training. Regular contract with the bishop or his delegate allows the Community to co-ordinate these activities with local and national pastoral programmes.  The majority of Emmanuel members are lay people and put themselves, like all Christians, at the service of their local parish.  They take part in the daily life of their diocese in any number of different roles : family pastoral work, catechesis.

Diocesan priests

Priests who are members of the Emmanuel Community are completely committed to their dioceses as diocesan priests dependent on their bishop.  As such they receive their mission from their bishop in consultation with the Moderator of the Community and in accordance with Community statutes.

So, for example, in France 30 Emmanuel priests are parish priests, whether in urban centres, suburbs or rural areas.  Whenever possible these priests have the company of other Emmanuel priests, lay people or consecrated men and women. In Australia there is so far only one Emmanuel priest, who is responsible for the parish of Saint Thomas More in Hadfield, a suburb of Melbourne.

Other priests may have more specific missions: to young people in schools, in teaching and training or in the service of other dioceses.  Some are appointed by their bishop for the life and internal activities of the Community.