Anawim Community

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and married couples, united by God in a call
to give our whole lives to Christ in service of His Body, the Church,
with a mission of fostering growth in the interior life

The Anawim Community was founded in Corning, New York on December 8, 1975. It was erected as a Public Association of the Faithful in the Metuchen Diocese by Bishop Hughes on March 25, 1995. Anawim maintains Community Centers in Corning, NY, and in the Philippines.

Our mission in the Philippines was established in May, 1992. Community members conduct catechetical instructions and marriage preparations, especially for the poor, and provide the people of the area with Christian education and spiritual formation. Our Community Center in Manila also serves as a House of Formation for our seminarians.

Fr. Francis Marino, Founder of the Anawim Community, passed away on October 1, 2007. Read his obituary here.

Holy card for Year for Priests. Click on thumbnails for larger image.

On the threshold of the third millennium of Christianity, the Church is calling all people to holiness. The Anawim vision responds to this call, uniting priests, married couples, and single persons as one anawim people. We see ourselves as instruments of God's compassion in the world today, making a gift of our lives through prayer, service and reparation.
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"Anawim" is the Old Testament Hebrew name for the "poor of God" - the faithful "remnant" taught by God to live in total dependence on Him. Today, God is sending the Holy Spirit to raise up an anawim people all over the world to live in this manner and to echo Mary's fiat: "Be it done to me according to Your will."

Anawim has two branches of membership: Covenant and Associate. Both branches are open to people in all states of life. Associate Members share in the vision and mission of Anawim. Covenant Members make a lifetime commitment to the Anawim Community and strive to live out the Anawim spirit in every aspect of life.

" . . . all Christians in any state or walk of life are called to

and by this holiness, a more human manner of life is fostered also in earthly society."

There are three essential characteristics of the Anawim spirituality:
The Liturgy is the source of our formation. As Mother Church, Mary is our guide, ever unfolding for us the work of her Son in the world today. Throughout the Church year we draw inspiration from the readings and prayers of the Liturgy, which we understand to be the ponderings of Mary's heart. Each day we ponder this Word Mother Church gives us through the Liturgy so that its power can enter our hearts and transform our lives. For this reason, we honor Mary under the title of Our Lady of the Liturgical Life.

". . . the liturgy is the summit toward which the activity of the Church

is directed: it is also the fount from which all her power flows."

Jesus in the Eucharist is the center of our spirituality. By faithful participation in the eucharistic celebration and frequent eucharistic adoration, we share in the co-redemptive love of Mother Church to bring forth new life to the Body of Christ in the world. Empowered by the presence of the Holy Spirit we go forth to serve the Body in all the circumstances and situations of life.
We entrust ourselves to Mary - the mother and model of every Christian - who forms us in her spirit of humility, compassion and reconciling love, transforming us into the likeness of Jesus. Mary shares with us her spiritual motherhood as we are called to bring forth the life of Jesus in others.
One of the ways we seek to share the Anawim spirituality is through the pilgrim Icon of Our Lady of the Liturgical Life which depicts the liturgical mysteries contained within the heart of Mary. The Icon travels to the homes of anyone seeking the Anawim grace of a deeper interior life.

Through growth in the interior life, members are brought to the fullness of their own unique call to service in the Anawim Community, the parish or diocese where they live.
Covenant members are willing to go where the Spirit leads them for the purpose of building up the Church. We seek to raise up an Anawim people who will give witness to the Church's call to community and to holiness. Wherever we go, we retain our character as a clerical-lay community of priests, families and single people working together.
Essential to our call is a spirit of fidelity to the authority under whom we serve. We are committed to every aspect of Catholic teaching and practice. Together we stand in total submission to the Holy Father and the bishops in union with him.

"Since the work that awaits everyone in the vineyard of the Lord is so great,

there is no place for idleness. With even greater urgency the 'householder' repeats his invitation:

Part of Anawim's mission is to pray for the needs of others through the intercession of Mary, Our Lady of the Liturgical Life. If you would like us to include your special prayer intentions in our Community prayers and Masses, please send them to Angela at:
Send Prayer Request Here

If you would like to explore the Anawim Community further,
we invite you to contact us at the following.