source: http://www.redhookstar.com/Images/Star%20Revue%20May%202011%20for%20web.pdf

[...] That evening, the parishioners of Visitation Church experienced a style of worship that many were not used to. “It was a complete turn-around,” says John Savarese, who  grew up on Beard Street and attended Visitation School (now the site of Red Hook Community Justice Center) in the 1960’s.  “It felt free-spirited. I was able to worship God the way He should be worshipped, like relaxed and loving, and not having to be worried about getting hit with one of those pointers! When I was growing up everything was so  strict. You couldn’t even talk in church, never mind sing.”

This new evangelical style is part of the repertoire of a Catholic community that arrived at Visitation Church last  November to revive it from debt, low membership and structural deterioration. Ten consecrated members of Koinonia John the Baptist – an evangelical organization founded in Italy in 1979 – are currently living in the rectory and attempting to bring about the revival. Father Claudio Antecini – the new pastor and administrator – is determined to save the church from closure and make it a relevant community institution again.

[...]

Even the Pastor will Grab a Broom

To  bring  down  expenses,  the  new administrators  have  cut  a  variety  of services  and  adopted  a  do-it-yourself approach to running the church. Custodial  services  have  been  cut.  Now the  Koinonia  members  do  all  of  the cleaning  and  maintenance.  In  the past, musicians were hired to play during service – particularly to play the Midmer pipe organ. Now, the group makes  due  with  what  it  has,  and more local musicians are showing up to play.  “They brought music into the church which I thought was great,” says Savarese.  “It’s  better  than  just  having to  mumble  the  same  words  and  fall asleep or get distracted. It helps you stay focused when you’re in it.”
[...]
Renegotiating this piece of real estate is a central part of the church’s strategic  plan  -  “Christ  Jesus  Our Hope” – which Father Claudio submitted  to  Bishop  DiMarzio  of  the
Diocese  in  February,  and  which  is still awaiting approval. The church would  like  to  draw  funds  from  the court just like it does from 96 Richards Street. The building was originally a convent, but now it is rented out to a nursing home, a major revenue source for the church.
Regardless of revenue, the members of Koinonia have to find a way to attract  new  parishioners  to  fill  thosbenches  for  the  church  to  achieve solid  ground.  Robert  Lee  -  a  musician  from  Duluth,  Minnesota,  who lives on Dikeman Street and recently began attending mass – believes that a revival  is  possible.  “There’s  so  much good energy there,” he says. “The mass is  like  a  living  thing,  not  just  repetition  and  routine.  They  attracted  me and I’ll definitely spread the word.”

Christ is risen!

Dear brothers and sisters,

“But you Bethlehem Ephrathah, the least of the clans of Judah, from you will come for me a future ruler of Israel whose origins go back to the distant past, to the days of old” (Mi 5:1).

Micah is one of the prophets who announce the birth of the Messiah. His announcement dates back to before 722 BC, centuries before the actual event took place. In his gospel Mathew quotes him to show that Scripture was fulfilled with Jesus’ birth at Bethlehem.

On the surface we don’t find anything strange about this, we are used to receiving biblical data; it’s only referring to a prophecy which announces the birth of the Messiah, an event which has now taken place. This may be true, nevertheless the prophetic announcement has a message for us today: it is an invitation to hope in the Lord’s promises.

Many  centuries  passed  from  the  time  of  Micah’s  prophecy  until  Jesus’  birth.  The  long drawn-out  period  surely  wasn’t  good  for  expectations,  especially  for  those  connected  with  this prophetic word. Time passed and nothing happened. Maybe it’s this type of waiting: where you are expecting something to happen but it never comes about that makes us lukewarm, shuts us inside a complex of powerlessness which closes us off to every act of courage and hinders us from opening ourselves to a vision of hope. All that is left is a heavy sense of time passing but no change. You could call it the Bethlehem complex: to remain always small and to be kept on hold.

But  this  isn’t  the  truth.  “The  smallest  will  grow  into  a  thousand,  the  weakest  one  into  a mighty nation. When the time is ripe, I, the Lord, shall quickly bring it about” (Is 60:22). Isaiah announces hope to a people coming back to Israel after the exile and who find themselves facing a situation which bears the signs of distruction. Is be possible to return to former glory?

God always astonishes his people and doesn’t hesitate to proclaim that the glory of the new house will be even greater than that of former times (cf Haggai 2:9). These prophetic words shake us out of our routine: God always renews everything and the waiting-time for the fulfilment of his promises does no more than enlarge our vision. So as Paul says, let us encourage one another and strengthen one another in hope.

What should we do?

To begin with, don’t complain about your brothers and sisters nor about life’s trials: all it does is snuff out hope and cool enthusiasm.

Secondly, always be joyful and in every thing give thanks: joy strengthens our will and praise purifies the eyes of our mind.

Thirdly, let the Word of Christ abound between us: it’s the power of God for our salvation.

And fourthly, may your pleasantness be noted by everyone: witness to the presence of Jesus in our midst by the candour of our words and the strength of our mutual love.

These are the instructions for Advent this year. It is a time of waiting, a time of fulfilment of the promises. God fulfils his promises but it is up to us to know how to use this waiting period. Use it prophetically and it will already be a foretaste of fulfilment.

Everyone talks about the economic crisis; for us instead it is a time of blessing, not because we aren’t affected by the crisis but because it is the ideal time for proclaiming God’s faithfulness which never fails towards his people. This is why we put on garments of joy and hope, of acceptance and generosity so that everyone can see that we are children of a God who doesn’t fear events because He is the Lord of the events.

To the brothers and sisters of the whole Koinonia I would like to make this simple invitation: joy and generosity. Anything that you save from the various deprivations that you choose to make, use it to give joy to the poor who live in your midst and may your table always be ready to welcome so that you can break the bread of brotherly love with those that the Lord will send you.

Love and nourish in joy.

And may you, consecrated brothers and sisters, lead the way by your example.

Have a good Advent.

Plzen – Valcha, 20th November 2011
Fr. Alvaro Grammatica
General Pastor

Bishop Stanislav  Jan  Dziuba, O.S.P.P.E. , appointed bishop of Umzimkulu expressed his gratitude for the invitation to this event and for the opportunity to read the Gospels while being in the actual places where it happened, and is ivites us to work also in his diocese.  “I pray that the Community of Koinonia John the Baptist that starts their Evangelizing work in my Diocese of Umzimkulu will bring the fruits of conversion and renewal of faith of all the faithful.”

This  meeting  is  open  to  all  those  who  wish  to commit themselves to a walk of faith and who, under the light of the Word of God, desire to make the call to virginal friendship or to married friendship  concrete  in  their  lives.

Members  and  friends of the Koinonia between the ages of 26 and 40 are invited. Any exceptions must be agreed beforehand with the general secretary.

Meeting animators:
Fr. Ricardo, Fr. Alvaro, Fr. Emanuele and Fr. Sandro.

•  Date: from 31st May to 2nd June 2012
• Place: Prague, Czech Republic, in the Hotel
• Olympik TRISTAR (U Sluncové 14, 186 76
  Prague 8.  www.olympik.cz/tristar)
• Programme: work begins on 31st May at 9am
  and finishes on the evening of 2nd June.
•  The meeting will be held in Italian, with si-
  multaneous translation for different linguis-
  tic groups.
• Cost  €140:  this    includes  full  board  with
  evening  dinner  on  30th  May  and  break-
  fast on 3rd June (drinks and alcoholic bev-
  erages excluded).
• Single room supplement: €40  (entire meeting).
• Protected   parking   available:   450   Czech Crowns (entire meeting).
• Enrolments  should  be  sent  to  the  Federal Head Office by 31st March (or until all places are filled).
  Information requested: name, surname, nationality, age.
• For more information and enrolment contact:
  Monika: e-mail: seg<-a-t->koinoniagb.org
  mobile: +420 608 968 254

For details follow this Link:

http://www.koinoniagb.org/www/seminario_carismi1_en.php

Register here: http://www.koinoniagb.org/SE2011/ENG/cedola_iscrizione.html

The course begins at 4pm on the first day and concludes with lunch on the last day, according to the programme.
Contribution for the course: €650, including fullboard and teaching activities (each extra day costs €40); payments can be made when registering at the Reception desk of the International School (no credit cards) or through the bank.

Paul Course at Muzzano (BI), Italia.
The enrolment form together with an advance contribution of €150 must arrive
(if possible by bank transfer) at the International School’s secretarial office by 10th July 2011.

Secretarial Office of the International School
of Kerygmatic Evangelizzation

Dobřanska 41, Plzen-Valcha 301 00, Czech Republic
Mobile: +39 339 12 27 680 / + 420 775 071 730
E-mail: school@koinoniagb.org • www.schoolofevangelization.org

c/c: Koinonia Giovanni Battista – Scuola di Evangelizzazione
Banca: ČSOB, Plzeň, Sedláčkova 26a, Czech Republic
BIC: CEKOCZPP IBAN: CZ09 0300 0000 0002 7988 6733

Please call Michael for informations regarding upcoming events and activities:

Koinonia John the Baptist England
Michael and Agnieszka
Tel: 01275 818149
(Portishead)

or contact us using our contact form: link

Registration form must arrive at the school’s office with
a deposit of € 150 (through the bank) by

courses will take place at:

ISTITUTO “S.CASSIANO”
Via Ing. Bertola, 5
13895 MUZZANO (BI) – Italia
Tel. +39 015 63280
Fax +39 015 63304

courses will begin at 4pm on the first day and finish with lunch on the last day,
according to the program. The contributions for the courses include full-board
and didactic activities

More information and registration

courses will take place at:

ISTITUTO “S.CASSIANO”
Via Ing. Bertola, 5
13895 MUZZANO (BI) – Italia
Tel. +39 015 63280
Fax +39 015 63304

courses will begin at 4pm on the first day and finish with lunch on the last day,
according to the program. The contributions for the courses include full-board
and didactic activities

More information and registration