|Evangelizing Through Art and Culture
VATICAN CITY, 21 MAY 2006 (ZENIT)
Here is the description of the
Heralds of the Gospel which appears in the Directory of International
Associations of the Faithful, published by the Pontifical Council for
* * *
Official name: Heralds of the Gospel
Acronym: EP (from the Latin name of the association Evangelii Praecones)
History: EP dates back to the 1960s when a group of young Catholics from
Sao Paulo, Brazil, led by Joao Scognamiglio Cia Dfas, Pedro Paulo de
Figueiredo and Carlos Alberto Soares Correa 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 Pope John Paul
II's appeal to the lay faithful to set out boldly along the path of the
new evangelization, 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 Feb. 22, 2001, the Pontifical Council for the Laity issued a decree
recognizing 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
evangelize 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, evangelizing
families, providing catechetical and cultural formation to young people,
and disseminating religious Iiterature.
There is a particular focus on organizing 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.
Organization: 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
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 in Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania and
There are about 40,000 families committed to the work of evangelization.
Altogether, more than one million men and women are connected with the
Works: The EPs promote cultural associations, family welfare
associations, youth centers and evangelization campaigns.
Publications: "Arautos do Evangelho," published monthly in Portuguese
Web site: http://www.arautos.arg.br
Arautos do Evangelho
Rua Dom Domingos de Silos, 238
Jardim Sao Bento
02526-030 Sao Paulo SP
Tel. (55) 11-62569377
[© Copyright 2006
Libreria Editrice Vaticana]