OFFICIAL NAME
Heralds of the Gospel
ACRONYM
EP (from the Latin name of the association Evangelii Praecones)
ESTABLISHED
1999
HISTORY
EP dates back to the 1960s when a group of young Catholics from São Paulo, Brazil, led by João Scognamiglio Clá Días, Pedro Paulo de Figueiredo and Carlos Alberto Soares Corrêa used to meet to discuss, reflect and pray together. This experience, which continued for several decades, and involved other people, gradually led them to the desire to strive for Christian perfection and to proclaim the Gospel. In response to John Paul II’s appeal to the lay faithful to set out boldly along the path of the new evangelisation, they founded the Heralds of the Gospel Association which was canonically established in 1999 by the Bishop of Campo Limpo, and within a few years spread to several other countries. On 22 February 2001 the Pontifical Council for the Laity issued a decree recognising the Heralds of the Gospel as an international association of the faithful of Pontifical Right.
IDENTITY
The EPs strive to be instruments of holiness in the Church by encouraging close unity between faith and life, and working to evangelise temporal realities, particularly through art and culture. Their apostolate, which differs depending upon the environments in which they work, gives pride of place to parish animation, evangelising families, providing catechetical and cultural formation to young people, and disseminating religious literature. There is a particular focus on organising artistic events (music, drama) in churches, schools, hospitals, factories, offices and prisons. The educational efforts of the association focus on developing an interior life firmly rooted in the Eucharist, devotion to our Lady and fidelity to the Successor of Peter. The formation route taken by the members comprises the study of moral theology, exegesis, history, and a thorough training in the arts and modern languages.
ORGANISATION
The supreme authority of the EPs is the General Assembly, which elects the General Council to assist the General President, as the fount of unity of the association, in governing it. The association also includes Companions, who can be families or Religious who develop the charism of the association in their respective environments, and Honorary Companions. In each country they gather together in sodalities, made up of men and women, with their own government elected by the Assembly, coordinated by a Regional Council. The Heralds sharing the common life live in houses for brothers and for sisters.
MEMBERSHIP
At the present time there are 4,000 Heralds living in common in 50 countries as follows: Africa (8), Asia (6), Europe (13), North America (12), Oceania (1), and South America (10). There are about 40,000 families committed to the work of evangelisation. Altogether, more than one million men and women are connected with the EPs.
WORKS
The EPs promote cultural associations, family welfare associations, youth centres and evangelisation campaigns.
PUBLICATIONS
Arautos do Evangelho, published monthly in Portuguese and Spanish.
WEB SITE
HEADQUARTERS
Arautos do Evangelho
Rua Dom Domingos de Silos, 238
Jardim São Bento - 02526-030 São Paulo SP (Brazil)
Tel. [+55]11.62569377 - Fax [+55]11.62360442
Email: arautos@arautos.org.br
