An Advent Letter

From the President of Fondacio

At the beginning of this time of Advent, Ignacio Rosselot, President of Fondacio, addresses a letter to the community responsibles and members in the countries where she is present. Among others, it is a call to commit ourselves to the issues of society and to root our lives in Christ, notably through a life of prayer.

Dear friends,

First of all, I want to thank God for all the graces received by Fondacio over the many years, for the gift of faith and for the desire, which remains in the heart of the community, to share with the world the Good News of Jesus Christ.

We do not proclaim a myth or a human fabrication: God manifested Himself to man in a tangible way, one day in history. The time of Advent in which we enter opens us once again to this mystery of incarnation. God Himself comes to meet man in his human level. He has accomplished His promise made in generation to the people of Israel. What disappointment for all those who believed in the coming of a liberator, ready to chase away the Roman powers and to impose on all a new order: a messiah by the standards of the "world". On the other hand, what joy for the poor and the humble of heart who recognized in and through the person of Jesus Christ, a God-Love, who is close to us and merciful: a messiah at the service of "Man".

This God among men comes to propose a path of fulfillment, where love comes first, wellspring of meaning for a fruitful life.

In the Church, through the spirituality of Fondacio, He invites us to take this path, to enter His school, and to collaborate in His mission. Thus, the members of Fondacio are called to commit themselves to the issues of society, to share in the joys and the hopes, the griefs and the anxieties of the men of this time (Vatican II: Gaudium et Spes, 1) while testifying to the hope for a more humane world and while participating in her building. We know how much this path runs counter to the many customs of this world. “You are in the world, but you are not of the world” (John 17: 14-18); this is the paradox to which Jesus invites us: to live in friendship with the world and even to serve it, but, without conforming to its ways.

In order to take this path, we possess a treasure, which is the community, living cell of the Church, privileged place to experience the tenderness of God for all persons, place of speaking and of listening, of welcoming and of sending. Place of blessing and of learning to speak about the good of the other, to change our points of view, to move away from our self-centeredness. Then, with the others, we enter into a "we", instead of a "me / I" first. This is the adventure of communion, among us and in a wider opening to the world. A grace of unity was welcomed at the Congress of Chile. Fondacio is a community one and diverse. We discover ourselves rich in multiple cultures experienced through our presence in more than 25 countries. The ecumenical experience lived in the community, and since recently, the efforts in the dialogue with cultures and religions, are done for reconciliation and for peace. There is relevance in this reality facing the issues in the construction of the human family, a major challenge in our time. We want to participate modestly, but actively, in the realization of unity where Christ invites his Church: "That they be one so that the world believes" (John 17).

Fondacio has developed much these past years. It is necessary for us, today, to be further rooted in Him, the Christ, principle and end of who we are and of our actions. Prayer life must be at the heart of the community. This is already very much the case. She is the rock on which it builds, reinforces and consolidates our personal and community commitments. Let us take the time for individual and collective prayer to breathe in Him. Let bloom this very spontaneous prayer inherited from the renewal which we came from. Let us center always on the Word, the Scriptures, the heritage of the Fathers of the Church. The prayer of Christ and of the Church precedes us and, by the Spirit, we are in relation with the One who is the Source. "The one who remains in me and I in him, that one bears much fruit" (John 15:4). This verse has inspired our last international congress, entitled: "Through Him, with Him and in Him, disciples for the world". This word drives the community. It inspires and nourishes our programs of action. Be faithful, together, in prayer, to the alliance that Christ proposes to us.

With you, I pray for the growth of love among us and for the communion within our community and in the Church. Let us enter together a little more into this mystery of the coming of God on earth in the womb of Mary. Let us prepare ourselves to live this time of Advent in the shared joy of not being called "servants" anymore, but being called "friends" by God.

With brotherly love,
Ignacio ROSSELOT

Lettre de l'Avent