OFFICIAL NAME
Prayer and Life Workshops
ACRONYM
TOV (Talleres de Oración y Vida)
ESTABLISHED
1984
HISTORY
TOV was founded in Santiago de Chile by Fr Ignacio Larrañaga, a Basque Capuchin Franciscan, who saw the lack of a methodological approach to prayer in various ecclesial communities and felt the need to lead the faithful towards a personal relationship with God. His experience with the first group of lay people in Santiago prompted the Founder to devote himself to the training of leaders (guides) of different nationalities, to set in motion "prayer workshops" in different countries. In 1987, the first international Congress adopted a "Prayer and Life Manual" that had been drafted by the guides from 15 countries. TOV spread rapidly and in 1993, 32 "consolidation weeks" were held in the places in which it was present, to deepen the charism of the Association. In 1994, at the second International Congress the final version of the Manual was presented and a new international governance structure was adopted. On 4 October 1997, the Pontifical Council for the Laity decreed recognition of Talleres de Oración y Vida as an international association of the faithful of Pontifical Right.
IDENTITY
TOVs provide a service to the Church by supplying a practical method for learning to pray in an orderly, varied and gradual manner, from the first steps to the depths of contemplation. The members are introduced to the prayer life, and helped to combine prayer with engagement in ordinary temporal activities; to revive their awareness of their status and dignity as baptised Christians, and their responsibilities towards the mission of the Church in the world; to become hothouses of lay vocations to the apostolate and service of the Church in the dioceses and parishes. The initial formation of the members lasts for a year, and is designed to introduce them to the history, charism and life of the Association, and to learn different forms of prayer. After the members have been sent out on mission, updating is provided in monthly meetings to deepen the Word of God, the significance of the sacramental life and the Magisterium of the Church.
ORGANISATION
The TOV’s organs of government are the International Coordination, Zonal Coordinations (covering several countries), National Coordinations, and Local Coordinations (covering several towns in the same country). Every Coordination comprises a Coordinator, a Secretary and a Treasurer assisted, in the case of the national and local Coordinations, by a Formator and a Coordinator for young people. The Prayer and Life Workshops are each headed by one or two Guides.
MEMBERSHIP
TOV has 15,025 active members, and is present in 36 countries as follows: Africa (5), Asia (1), Europe (7), North America (12), Oceania (1), and South America (10). Over 2,500 people have links with it.
PUBLICATIONS
Espíritu y Vida, six-monthly magazine.
WEB SITE
HEADQUARTERS
Talleres de Oración y Vida
Apartado Postal 22
Administración de correos Chuburná
C.P. 97201 Mérida, Yucatán - Mexico
Tel. [+52]999.9480222 - Fax 999.9448733
Email: c.internacional@tovpil.org - tovcano@prodigy.net.mx
