Established in 1991
VATICAN CITY, 1 JUNE 2006 (ZENIT)Here is the description of the
International Forum of Catholic Action which appears in the Directory of
International Associations of the Faithful, published by the Pontifical
Council for the Laity.
Official name: International Forum of Catholic Action
Acronym: IFCA
Established: 1991
History: IFCA was established by the Catholic Action movements of
Argentina, Spain, Austria, Malta, Mexico and Italy, following the 1987
synod on the vocation and mission of the laity in the Church and in the
world, and the publication of the postsynodal apostolic exhortation "Christifideles
Laici."
They felt the need to establish a structure to enable associations and
movements belonging to Catholic Action to meet, exchange and show
solidarity, in terms of the new evangelization.
The IFCA constituent assembly was held in Rome in 1991. Between 1994 and
2000, the forum promoted continental meetings, study weeks for young
people, and seminars. On June 29, 1995, the Pontifical Council for the
Laity decreed recognition of the International Forum of Catholic Action
as an international organization of pontifical right.
Identity: IFCA sets out to enable associations and federations of
Catholic Action movements in diverse countries to get to know one
another; and to promote initiatives to support and develop the specific
service that they are called to provide consistently with their
identity, with all the variety of different forms they take due to their
cultural, social and ecclesial contexts.
IFCA also enables the Catholic Action movements to deepen the study of
issues affecting the life and the mission of the Church at the
universal, continental or regional levels; to establish forms of
dialogue and cooperation with all the lay apostolate organizations at
the international level; and to represent the associations and
federations of Catholic Action movements belonging to the forum before
the Holy See and civil international organizations.
Organization: IFCA is governed by the assembly; the general secretariat,
made up of five lay members, normally national presidents, appointed by
various countries and elected every three years by the ordinary
assembly; and the secretariat coordinator. It is also planned to
introduce a youth coordinator.
Membership: IFCA has 16 member countries, 10 observer countries and four
countries in contact with it.
Publications: Newsletter, in Italian, French, English and Spanish
Web site: www.fiacifca.org
Headquarters:
Forum Internazionale di Azione Cattolica
Via della Conciliazione, 1
00193 Rome - Italy
Tel. (39) 06.661.321
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Fax 06.6613.2360
E-mail: fiac@azionecattolica.it
info@fiacifca.org
© Copyright 2006
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Libreria Editrice Vaticana [adapted]
ZE06060123
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