Canonical constitutions of the Foyers de Charité

Decree of the Pontifical Council for the Laity

On the occasion of celebrating the 50th anniversary of its foundation, the Work of the Foyers de Charité, rich with the graces received throughout its history and desirous to root itself more deeply into the Church in order to better fulfill its mission for the world, has asked the Pontifical Council for the Laity to recognize it officially, and to approve its statutes.

Having carefully studied the documentation presented by those in charge of the Work of the Foyers de Charité, received a positive opinion from numerous Bishops having a Foyer in their diocese, and having submitted the demand for recognition to His Holiness Pope John Paul II

RECOGNIZES

according to the norms established by the can. 321-326, and approves its canonical structures ad experimentum.

DECREE

The Pontifical Council for the Laity in a Decree dated 1st November 1986 (Prot. 2006/86/S-61/B-12) recognized the Work of the Foyers de Charité as a private nternational association of believers by approving its Canonical Constitutions for a period of three years ad experimentum ;
Then, in a letter dated 14th February 1989 (Prot. 314/89/S-61/B-12), this Dicastery agreed to extend this ad experimemtum period until November 1993 ;
In a letter dated 29th March 1996 (Prot. 402/96/S-61/B-12) the Pontifical Council for the Laity extended this ad experimentum acknowledgment for five more years ;
And now,
Taking into account the demand addressed to the Pontifical Council for the Laity by the priest in charge of the Work of the Foyers de Charité in a letter dated 15th August 1999 asking for the definitive approval of the Canonical Constitutions of the Foyers de Charité ;
Seeing that many letters supporting this demand sent by the Ordinaries of the dioceses where Foyers de Charité are settled bear witness to their evangelical way of life, their participation in the life of the Church and the spiritual influence of their mission ;
Taking into account that in the past few years new Foyers de Charité have been opened, very often in response to invitations from the Bishops themselves, and that new vocations have joined the Foyers de Charité in the different continents ;
Finally, having appreciated the efforts made to lead a deeper reflexion during the last years within the Work of the Foyers de Charité as concerns its original charism and some other major questions raised by this Dicastery ;
The Pontifical Council for the Laity confirms the recognition of the Work of the Foyers de Charité as a Private international Association of believers, of pontifical law, endowed with a juridical personality, according to the norms of can. 298-311 and 321-329 of the CIC and

DECREES

the definitive approval of its Canonical Constitutions the original text of which has been authenticated and filed in the archives of this Dicastery.

Given at the Vatican, on 8th December 1999
on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.