The Community Jean Saint

The Communauté Saint Jean is an religious order rested by the father Dominicain Marie-Dominique Philippe in 1975. The brothers of the community are called the small gray , in reference to their gray dress. This one is composed of a gray tunic and a Scapulaire with cap (similar to the black dress of the Bénédictin S) with, with the size, a Rosaire. The contemplative sisters carry in more one white veil and the apostolic sisters a gray veil.

Statute connected with the church

Since 1986, the Community of the Brothers of Jean Saint is a religious Institute of right diocesan depend on the bishop of Autun (France), i.e. under the authority of the Catholic church.

History

In 1975 a group of students of the university of Freiburg requires of the Philippe Father to be their spiritual father. On the council of Marthe Robin, it accompanies them in their wish by monastic life.

In 1978, this group is attached " AD expérimentum" with the Cistercian abbey of Lérins and takes the name of community Saint Jean.

In 1982, the first monastery is founded in Rimont (Burgundy). Then the noviciate was open in 1983 to Saint Jodard (Diocese of Lyon).

The community knows until 1996 a phase of expansion with many foundations in France and abroad.

From 1996 to 2004, she knows a certain number of difficulties marked by departures and the obligation to restructure itself.

In 2001, the Father Marie-Dominique Philippe leaves the government of the community to a first elected general prior: the Jean-Pierre-Marie Father.
the Philippe Father ceases teaching in 2003 following the request of the hierarchy, for a “setting in conformity with the ordinary right which regulates the age of the teachers (it is 91 years old) and to allow a renewal of the body of the teachers studium of Rimont”, specifies Mgr Pierre Calimé, spokesperson of the bishop of Autun.
In 2004, Monseigneur Madec accompanies the community as religious assistant.

August 26th, 2006, death of the Father Marie-Dominique Philippe in Saint Jodard (the Loire).

Missions and activities

The community is composed of three branches :

brothers: their mission is varied, near the young people, of the disadvantaged populations, etc
the apostolic sisters: their mission is to teach, to help the mothers in particular, and they also propose missions with the children.
contemplative sisters: their main objective is to request for the world, while being often at the sides of the brothers and by giving all their life to Jesus, by Marie. They accommodate also each one wishing to spend queques days near them.

The new Community, it founds many priories in the whole world, there or the bishops often ask him to come. She is currently present in several countries of the world.

Saint Jean proposes many sessions for the young people (in particular the festival which takes place in summer), for the families, and still much of other retirements to the very varied topics.

The community tries to live each day following the disciple that Jesus liked, Jean, with large a devotion with the Virgin Mary, in bond with the word of Christ in cross with Jean saint;: “ Ecce MATER killed ”, i.e. “ Voici your mother ”.

In February 2006, the community carried out a pilgrimage in Rome to celebrate its 30 years. The father Marie-Dominique Philippe there was present and preached at the time of the demonstrations organized during three days (masses, visits…). The pilgrims met the pope Benoît XVI at the time of his audience.

Criticisms

The community receives many criticisms since 1996, mainly of associations of victims families of sects like the AVREF (Association Religious Life and Families), UNADFI and the Center against mental handling. They reproach him their proselytism near very young adults, pushing those to cut any bond with their family; as well as psychological pressures and the absence of medical care.

It is reproached to him by the catholic mediums plus progressists nonthe compliance with certain rules of the Catholic church, and the methods of training of the newcomers too close to the methods of the Secte S.

Following these polemics, the Cardinal Lustiger withdrew with the congregation in 2000 the load of the chaplaincy of the Collège Stanislas of Paris. The catholic authorities started several meetings and follow this file. Religious assistants, Monseigneur Madec helped of the Niclase Father and Monseigneur Poulain, were assigned besides by Rome respectively at this community and that of the apostolic sisters, in order to supervise these congregations. The mandate of the Niclase Father ended at Easter 2006.

However, it is advisable to make the distinction between the apostolic and contemplative of Jean saint, founded sisters with the father Marie-Dominique Philippe, and the sisters known as " sisters mariales of Jodard" Saint; , which was not founded by this last, but with despite everything approval, the reception and the encouragement of this last. With their creation, these sisters had chaplain and felt near to the father Marie Dominique and thus approached to themselves the community without never forming part of it. Thereafter, this community, also new, knew some unquestionable drifts, and the Barbarin cardinal decided to dissolve it for his good and that of the sisters.

Monseigneur Madec and Monseigneur Poulain, charged to take care on the growth of the communities of the brothers and the sisters of Midsummer's Day, answered these criticisms by an official statement where “they go guaranteeing of what these communities live and challenge about them any qualification of sect and sectarian drifts”. They have recalled that “these communities are with the service of more than 20 dioceses in France, in certain cases for more than 20 years”.

Situation

The community Saint Jean is a prosperous community, which opposes the idea of universal fall of the vocations nun. In 2005, they are 930 brothers, contemplative sisters, and apostolic sisters, and more than 3.000 oblats divided in 21 country, and 91 priories including 48 in France. The average age is 37 years.

After a time of noviciate and formation (approx. 7 years) during which they endeavor to enter in plenitude the spirit of the Midsummer's Day family, the Brothers live in these small communities which are the priories. The members of the Midsummer's Day community pronounce the three wishes of poverty, chastity and obedience, enracinés in the 3 alliances revealed in the Gospel of Jean saint:

alliance with Jesus in Eucharistie,
alliance with Marie,
alliance with Pierre, in the person of the Holy Father.

The Head office of the Brothers of St Jean is with the Prieuré Notre-Dame de Rimont 71390 Fley-Rimont

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