The creation of a movement of couples, that wish to become holy through the sacrament of marriage, was a great event in the Church, a true revolution. Teams of Our Lady is a\u00a0movement of married spirituality\u00a0and a way of belonging to a team within a\u00a0\u2018Christian community of couples.\u2019<\/em>\u00a0At the time, this was considered to be a novelty and now is considered to be a charism, a gift from God to his Church.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Back in 1938, four young couples, committed Christians, wished to live their love in the light of their faith. They asked Father Caffarel to guide them in this search. \u201cLet us look and seek together,\u201d replied Father Caffarel. February 25th, 1939, saw the first meeting in Paris. Gradually during the following meetings, these young couples realised that marriage was the living image of the love that unites Christ to his Church.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n The Charter of Teams of Our Lady came into existence and the notion of married spirituality was elaborated. The movement developed rapidly in France, Belgium, and Switzerland and then throughout Europe, South America and North America.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n General theme: “Teams of Our Lady, an International Movement”<\/strong> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n General Theme: \u201cThe Vocation and Direction of Teams of Our Lady\u201d<\/strong> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n The Teams of Our Lady Movement was officially recognised by the Church with the approbation of its statutes by His Eminence, Cardinal Maurice Feltin, Archbishop of Paris.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n General Theme: \u201cTeams of Our Lady in the service of a new commandment\u201d In front of 7000 team members, Father Caffarel reiterated the vocation of the Movement: the mystique of sharing, fraternal charity and service within the Church.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Father Caffarel decided to retire and hand over to a young team of responsible couples, along with Father Roger Tandonnet, as their Spiritual Counsellor.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n The Teams of Our Lady is officially recognised by Rome as an International Catholic Association.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n General Theme: \u201cTeams of Our Lady in the Service of Evangelisation\u201d<\/strong> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Regional Responsible couples from Europe met at Chantilly, May 3rd, 1987 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Charter. Father Caffarel gave an important speech there, entitled \u201cThe Founding Charism of the Teams of Our Lady.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n General Theme: \u201cSecond Wind\u201d<\/strong> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Decree of the Pontifical Council for the Laity: recognition of the Teams of Our Lady as an international association of the faithful and approval of its statutes ad experimentum.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n General Theme: \u201cBeing a Family in Today\u2019s Church and in the World<\/strong> \u201d <\/p>\n<\/div>\n At the age of 93, Father Caffarel died on September 18th, 1996 at Troussures, France, a house, where upon his departure from the Movement in 1973, he had set up a \u201cschool of personal prayer.\u201d He is buried in the cemetery of Troussures. Cardinal Lugister, Archbishop of Paris, called Father Caffarel, \u201ca prophet for our times\u201d<\/strong> in his eulogy.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n The 50th anniversary of the promulgation of the founding charter was celebrated in all countries, while an international ceremony was held in the Crypt of St Augustine\u2019s Church, Paris. A message from Pope John Paul II was read out at this ceremony where he presented the Teams of Our Lady as \u201ca catalyst for renewal within the Church.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n General Theme: \u201cThe Couple, an image of a Trinitarian God\u201d<\/strong> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Decree of the Pontifical Council for the Laity: recognition of Teams of Our Lady as a Private International Association Of The Faithful and definitive approval of its statutes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n General Theme: \u201cCouples Called by Christ to the New Covenant\u201d<\/strong> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n General Theme: \u201cTeams of Our Lady: living communities of couples and reflections of Christ\u2019s Love.\u201d<\/strong> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n To commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Charter, the International Leading Team invited older team members (35 couples and 4 Spiritual Counsellors) to a gathering in Massabielle (a retreat house in the Paris suburbs, owned and run by Teams of Our Lady) on the theme of \u201cMemories and Perspectives.\u201d A festive mass was organised on Saturday, December 8th in the Church of St Augustine, Paris, with the older Team members, the International Leading Team and a great number of team members.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n General Theme: \u201cI am among you as one who serves.\u201d<\/strong> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n The Association of the Friends of Father Caffarel supports the cause of his canonisation, but also wanted to contribute to making the person and work of Father Caffarel better known. To this end, they organised a scientific colloquium at the College des Bernardins, Paris, December 3-4, 2010.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n General Theme: \u201cDare to live the Gospel\u201d<\/strong> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n The final and complete dossier for the Cause for Canonisation was sealed, before being transferred to Rome, at a solemn ceremony presided over by Monsignor Moulins-Beaufor<\/strong> t, auxiliary bishop of Paris at St Augustine\u2019s Church, Paris (Father Caffarel\u2019s old parish).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n General theme: “Here I am, Lord, send me.”(Is 6:8). <\/strong> This citation from Isaiah was the central theme of this Gathering in Rome of 164 couples and 21 Spiritual Counsellors from all over the world. Father Caffarel’s thinking, love within the couple, the sacrament of marriage, the future of the family, the youth of today, the vocation and mission of the Teams…were the main subjects treated during this gathering. The Teams of Our Lady met Pope Francis during a private audience.<\/p>\n General Theme: \u201cReconciliation, sign of love<\/strong> \u201d. The Parable of the Prodigal Son was the centrl theme of this Gathering that assembled 4250 couples and about 500 spiritual conusellors. The document Vocation and Mission was given to all the present members of teams. The General Orientation for the next years is Have no fear, Let’s go forth.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nOrigins (1938-1939)<\/span><\/h3>\n
Charter (1947)<\/span><\/h3>\n
1st International Gathering, Lourdes (June 1954)<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n900 team members attended, confirming the Movement.<\/p>\n2nd International Gathering, Rome (May 1959)<\/span><\/h3>\n
\nPope John XXIII received approximately 2050 team members.<\/p>\nApproval of the Statutes (March 1960)<\/span><\/h3>\n
3rd International Gathering, Lourdes (June 1965)<\/span><\/h3>\n
4th International Gathering, Rome (May 1970)<\/span><\/h3>\n
Father Caffarel’s Retirement (June 1973)<\/span><\/h3>\n
International Catholic Association (February 1975)<\/span><\/h3>\n
5th International Gathering, Rome (September 1976)<\/span><\/h3>\n
\nAfter the official recognition of the Movement, the Responsible Team put together a document that updated the Charter, entitled \u201cWhat a Team of Our Lady is: additional material for the Charter.\u201d Pope Paul VI in his speech to the Team members declared, \u201cRemain how you were on the first day\u2026 a true school of spirituality for married couples.\u201d The Youth Teams of Our Lady grew out of this gathering.<\/p>\n6th International Gathering, Rome (September 1982)<\/span><\/h3>\n
\nPope John Paul II welcomed 5000 team members and told them that, \u201cChristian marriage is a Passover.\u201d<\/div>\nGathering of Responsible Couples, Chantilly (May 1987)<\/span><\/h3>\n
7th International Gathering, Lourdes (September 1988)<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n\u201cSecond Wind\u201d was the departure point, a reference text; a call for creativity, aimed at all teams the world over. In this spirit, 3400 couples and 260 priests assembled at Lourdes to confirm the mission of the Teams of Our Lady: to ensure the diffusion of married spirituality, by reminding all that the sacrament of marriage demanded abnegation and that it is the way to love, happiness and holiness.<\/p>\nDecree of Recognition for the Teams of Our Lady Movement (April 1992)<\/span><\/h3>\n
8th International Gathering, Fatima (July 1994)<\/span><\/h3>\n
\nWithin the framework of the International Year of the Family, 5200 team members representing 49 countries gathered at Fatima and were invited to \u201cthe Wedding Feast of Cana.\u201d<\/p>\nDeath of the Founder (1996)<\/span><\/h3>\n
50th Anniversary of the Charter (8 December 1997)<\/span><\/h3>\n
9th International Gathering, Santiage de Compostela (September 2000)<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n3400 couples and 300 Spiritual Counsellors from 57 countries gathered and Pope John Paul II reminded them that the Teams of Our Lady had \u201ca mission to propose married and family spirituality that is firmly anchored in the sacrament of marriage.\u201d<\/p>\nConfirmation of the Decree of Recognition (July 2002)<\/span><\/h3>\n
1st Gathering of Regional Responsible Couples, Rome (January 2003)<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n260 people, mainly Regional Responsible Couples, attended from around the world to think about the perspectives and priorities of the Movement for the subsequent years. Pope John-Paul II received the team members in a private audience.<\/p>\n10th International Gathering, Lourdes (September 2006)<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n8100 members of the Movement from over 50 countries worldwide met in Lourdes. This gathering saw the opening of the Cause for Canonisation of Father Caffarel.<\/p>\n60th Anniversary of the Charter (December 2007)<\/span><\/h3>\n
2nd Gathering OF REGIONAL Responsible Couples, Rome (January 2009)<\/span><\/h3>\n
\nThis phrase from Luke 22, 27 was the theme around which 124 couples and 8 Spiritual Counsellors from all over the world met. All the speeches, testimonials and workshops stressed the urgency of service and the importance of the mission to be witnesses to God\u2019s love.<\/p>\nColloquium on Father Caffarel (December 2010)<\/span><\/h3>\n
11th International Gathering, BRASILIA (July 2012)<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n3500 couples and roughly 500 Spiritual Counsellors participated in this gathering. It was the first time that the gathering was held outside of Europe and reflected the international spirit of the Movement. The orientation for the next 6 years, 2012-2018, based on the theme of Meeting, were articulated around three ideas: Couples: Dare to immerse your heart in Christ\u2019s Love; Dare to Welcome and Look After Mankind; Dare to go out into the World in the service of the Church.<\/p>\nClosure of the diocesan enquiry for the canonisation of Father Caffarel (October 18th, 2014)<\/span><\/h3>\n
3rd Gathering of Regional Responsible Couples (September 2015)<\/span><\/h3>\n
12th International Gathering, Fatima (July 2018)<\/span><\/h3>\n