A significant development

Starting from the commitment of the first forty people in 1976, the Community developed very quickly. Far from confining itself in Paris, it was also based elsewhere in France and overseas. In the beginning, the number of members doubled every year. In 1982, Emmanuel was already present in 7 or 8 countries and consisted of 1100 members and 2500 in 1988.

When Pierre Goursat died on Monday March 25, 1991, the community was already present in the whole world. The current number is of 7200 members is divided in 64 countries (of which about half in France).

Diversity of age, social background, states of life

One of the graces of the Community has always been the diversity of age, social backgrounds and the states of life. The community encourages in particular the vocations of priests and consecrated persons. The first priest was ordained in 1980, followed by four others in 1984. In 2006, the Emmanuel Community counted 180 priests and 100 seminarians. In addition, 200 women and a smaller group of brothers chose to live in consecrated celibacy.

A laboratory of evangelisation

Emmanuel is also like a kind of a laboratory of evangelisation, causing many initiatives in order to touch people where they are and as they are. The Community is traversed by a dynamic inventiveness. "Emmanuel : it is evangelisation in joy", said Cardinal Ratzinger one day. The Community is also blessed, since the beginning, with a grace for composition of songs which lead to praise and adoration.

Recognition of the Church

The Church recognized the Community, initially at the diocesan level (Nanterre 1980, Paris 1982), then universally, in 1992, as an Association the Faithful. It entrusts a number of missions to the Community, particularly, parishes (about thirty to date).

The Community, although young, has a rich history and does its best to be faithful to what the Spirit gave from its beginnings. It presents the face of Jesus to the men of this time, as much as possible, with a great desire to help present society to discover the foundations of life.

Several of its members already have given their life for Christ and others have died with a reputation of holiness. It contributes, with other movements and communities, to the blossoming of a new Christian culture.