Formation in the CAC
The Community of Apostolic Christians was officially approved and recommended as a private association of the faithful according to canon law by the Bishop of Limburg, Dr. Franz Kamphaus, on November 7, 1995.
The community is missionary and international and has groups in the USA, Africa, India, the Philippines and in Germany. It is open for all Christians, men and women, married or single, who approve the goals and intentions written down in the Statutes of the Community of Apostolic Christians.
Since the CAC is recognized as a real religious community in the church, we believe that members have a vocation to the community. Therefore, a time of discernment and formation is necessary before a candidate can become an official member of the community. During this time of formation the candidate is introduced to the spirituality of the Opus Spiritus Sancti and the life of the CAC. The person attends the regular meetings of the community group in his/her area and is introduced to the spirituality and life of the community during those meetings. A variety of print materials are available to help the interested candidate learn more and an existing member functions as a mentor for the candidate to help him/her grow in the spirituality and life of the community. Some of these documents include: the Directorium Spirituale (Manual for the Spiritual Life), the Basic Spiritual Exercises, the Mission Statement, Statutes of the CAC, Dedication Prayer and Contract, the books: History of the Opus Spiritus Sancti and A Spirituality of Pentecost in the Opus Spiritus Sancti.
The time of formation is normally two years, though this can be shortened to one year under certain circumstances. Following the time of formation the candidate may officially become a member of the community by praying the First Dedication to the Holy Spirit, and making the First Contract with the community. In this contract the member agrees to live according to the Statutes of the CAC. Though many people today seem reluctant to enter into a commitment of any kind, this is an easy prayer to pray and contract with the community to make for which the member is prepared during the time of formation. The First Dedication and Contract are for a specific length of time.
Attendance at the regular monthly meetings of the local group help the members to grow in what it means to belong to a brotherly and sisterly, international, missionary community that is connected to the other communities of the Opus Spiritus Sancti. Wherever we live and work, we want to foster the renewal of Church and the world, so that God’s Reign can grow among us and that “God may be all in all“.
The community is missionary and international and has groups in the USA, Africa, India, the Philippines and in Germany. It is open for all Christians, men and women, married or single, who approve the goals and intentions written down in the Statutes of the Community of Apostolic Christians.
Since the CAC is recognized as a real religious community in the church, we believe that members have a vocation to the community. Therefore, a time of discernment and formation is necessary before a candidate can become an official member of the community. During this time of formation the candidate is introduced to the spirituality of the Opus Spiritus Sancti and the life of the CAC. The person attends the regular meetings of the community group in his/her area and is introduced to the spirituality and life of the community during those meetings. A variety of print materials are available to help the interested candidate learn more and an existing member functions as a mentor for the candidate to help him/her grow in the spirituality and life of the community. Some of these documents include: the Directorium Spirituale (Manual for the Spiritual Life), the Basic Spiritual Exercises, the Mission Statement, Statutes of the CAC, Dedication Prayer and Contract, the books: History of the Opus Spiritus Sancti and A Spirituality of Pentecost in the Opus Spiritus Sancti.
The time of formation is normally two years, though this can be shortened to one year under certain circumstances. Following the time of formation the candidate may officially become a member of the community by praying the First Dedication to the Holy Spirit, and making the First Contract with the community. In this contract the member agrees to live according to the Statutes of the CAC. Though many people today seem reluctant to enter into a commitment of any kind, this is an easy prayer to pray and contract with the community to make for which the member is prepared during the time of formation. The First Dedication and Contract are for a specific length of time.
Attendance at the regular monthly meetings of the local group help the members to grow in what it means to belong to a brotherly and sisterly, international, missionary community that is connected to the other communities of the Opus Spiritus Sancti. Wherever we live and work, we want to foster the renewal of Church and the world, so that God’s Reign can grow among us and that “God may be all in all“.