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The Community of St. John is a religious institute founded by Dominican Father Marie-Dominique Philippe in 1975. The brothers of the community are called "small greys", with refers to their grey habit (it is composed of a grey tunic and a scapular similar to the black habit of Benedictine), with a rosary to the waist. Contemplative sisters wear an additional white veil and apostolic sisters, a gray veil.
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Since 1986, the Community of the Brothers of St. John has been a religious institute of diocesan right depending on the bishop of Autun, under the authority of the Catholic Church.
History
In 1975, a group of five students of the University of Freiburg asked Marie-Dominique Philippe to be their spiritual father. On Marthe Robin's advice, he accompanied them in their desire for monastic life. In 1978, this group was ad experimentum linked to the Cistercian monastery Lérins Abbey and was then named Community of St. John. In 1982, the first monastery was founded in Rimont (Burgundy), and the novitiate was opened in 1983 in Saint-Jodard (diocese of Lyon). Until 1996, the community was expanded with many foundations in France and other countries.
From 1996 to 2004, the community had a number of difficulties, marked by departures and the obligation to restructure. In 2000, the Collège Stanislas de Paris was no longer under the direction of the congregation, after a decision by Cardinal Lustiger. In 2001, Father Marie-Dominique Philippe left the direction of the community to Father Jean-Pierre-Marie ; he also stopped teaching in 2003 after a request of the hierarchy. In 2004, Monseigneur Joseph Madec became the religious community's assistant. On 26 August 2006, Marie-Dominique Philippe died in Saint-Jodard (Loire) and Pope Benedict XVI paid tribute to him.
Activities
The community is composed of three parts : Brothers, Apostolic sisters and Contemplative sisters. The community organizes numerous sessions for young people, for families, and many other spiritual retreats based on various themes. In February 2006, the community made a pilgrimage to Rome to celebrate its 30 years of birth. Marie-Dominique Philippe participated in the pilgrimage and preached, and the pilgrims met Pope Benedict XVI.
Organization
In 2005, the community was composed of 930 brothers, contemplative and apostolic sisters, and over 3,000 oblates in 21 countries and 91 priories, 48 of them located in France. After a seven-year novitiate and training period, the Brothers live in these small communities named priories. Members of the community are under religious vows.
Reception
Since 1996, the community has been criticized in France by several anti-cult associations, including AVREF (Association Vie Religieuse et Familles), UNADFI and CCMM. They accused the community of proselytizing among young adults, forcing them to cut all ties with their families, exerting psychological pressure, abandoning medical treatments and using training methods for newcomers too similar to those of cults.
For their part, the Prior General of the community, then Monsigneurs Madec and Poulain reject these criticisms.
Contemplative sisters
The Community of Contemplative Sisters of St. John was founded in December 1982. In March 1994 the Archbishop of Lyon established it as a Diocesan Congregation of Right. The motherhouse is at St. Jodard.