Ecclesial Family Movement to Get Vatican Approval

The movement "Hogares Nuevos-Obra de Cristo" (New Homes - Work of Christ), founded by Father Ricardo Facci, will receive official approval from the Holy See next Tuesday.

VATICAN CITY (Zenit) - An Argentinean-born spiritual movement for strengthening the family is set to receive pontifical approval as an International Private Association of Faithful.

The movement Hogares Nuevos-Obra de Cristo (New Homes-Work of Christ), founded by Father Ricardo Facci, will receive official approval from the Holy See next Tuesday. The Pontifical Council for the Laity will deliver the official decree to the founder and those who will accompany him. The decree is dated Oct. 24, 2008, to coincide with the 26th anniversary of the group's founding.

Brother Agustín Riquelme of the general secretariat of the movement told ZENIT that the occasion is "for us a motive of great joy" that we want to share "with the rest of the Church."

Benedict XVI will receive members of the movement in audience the following day, Nov. 12.

The name of the Hogares movement reflects its Christocentric spirituality: "Christ is the author, artist and center of this work; it is He who makes man and all things new. He makes new our homes, whether they be family homes or those of communities of consecrated persons or priests who are true families in which, like in every domestic Church, they live with the real presence of Christ among them," Brother Riquelme added.

The aim of the movement is that its members "reach sanctity in obedience to the Gospel, following Christ as guide, master and lord of their lives and that families and communities live, in their interior, the real presence of Christ, fully united to him, to be witnesses and fruitful in the mission."

The movement is now active in Uruguay, Paraguay, Chile, Peru, Guatemala, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Spain and Russia.