One of the wonderful things about the action of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church is the capacity for endless creativity. Pope John Paul II identified the Movements and New Communities as part of that creativity that the Holy Spirit has given to renew the Church and likened them to a new springtime.

Since 1975, Emmanuel has strived to be a faithful witness to this new springtime and to the renewal that God is bringing about in his Church. Truly, we are seeing a new Pentecost which asks of us that same as it did of the early apostles and disciples – the surrender of our lives for the sake of following Jesus Christ and witnessing to his truth.

In 1998, in the presence of hundreds of thousands of people representing movements and new communities from around the world, Pope John Paul II said,

Today the Church rejoices at the renewed confirmation of the prophet Joel's words which we have just heard: "I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh" (Acts 2:17). You, present here, are the tangible proof of this "outpouring" of the Spirit…Some charisms given by the Spirit burst in like an impetuous wind, which seizes people and carries them to new ways of missionary commitment to the radical service of the Gospel, by ceaselessly proclaiming the truths of faith, accepting the living stream of tradition as a gift and instilling in each person an ardent desire for holiness.
Today, I would like to cry out to all of you gathered here in St Peter's Square and to all Christians: Open yourselves docilely to the gifts of the Spirit! Accept gratefully and obediently the charisms which the Spirit never ceases to bestow on us! Do not forget that every charism is given for the common good, that is, for the benefit of the whole Church.

My friends, as you navigate these pages, I hope you will catch a vision of God at work among his people in an exciting way. If you have any questions about our community life or mission, please feel free to get in touch with us.

Yours in Christ,

Shayne Bennett
Moderator of Emmanuel Community