Our History

Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his great love is without end
Ps 136:1

Chronology

January 1987

In Lima, Peru, a group of young women, amid the apostolic activities organized by the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae (SCV), decided to embark upon an experience of consecrated life in community and of apostolic endeavour.

March 25th, 1991

The Marian Community of Reconciliation was established as a Feminine Public Association of the Faithful of Diocesan Right. Since then, on the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, the start of the community’s history has been celebrated.

1991-2011

The MCR was under the authority of the Superior General of the SCV and it cooperated with some of the apostolic works of that Society. In addition, it helped to lead activities in the Christian Life Movement and the Association of Mary Immaculate.

1997

The mission of the MCR extended to other countries, and this both gave it a richer ecclesial experience and opened up new fields of apostolate. By the year 2000, the MCR had apostolic communities in Peru, Colombia, USA and Italy.

January 21st, 2011

On the feast of St. Agnes, the Marian Community of Reconciliation received canonical approval as a Society of Apostolic Life of Diocesan Right and its first Constitutions were approved. In that same year, after the First Ordinary General Assembly, the MCR had its own autonomous government, led by a Superior General who was elected from among its members.

2013-2016

Together with the rejection that was generated when the scandals concerning the founder of the SCV and some of its members were made known, the MCR became aware of the deep wounds in its institutional culture and so began an important period of purification and renewal. This awareness led the MCR to progressively recognize the painful stories lived within Fraterna communities as a consequence of its unhealthy institutional culture. These stories have hurt us and we reject all abuses committed and we are committed to doing all that we can to avoid the recurrence of such behaviors and all that might stop us from living our lives of service according to the Gospel.

October 2016

The Second General Assembly took place in 2016, at which approval was given to initiate a process of revision of the text of the Constitutions and of listening to the charism.

2017-2020

We received advice from external professionals with a broad range of experience in the Church and in the world more broadly, and they helped us to elaborate guidelines for the renewal of our institutional life and formation in various aspects of consecrated life.

2020

At the request of the Superior General of the Community, the Archbishop of Lima, the Most Rev. Carlos Castillo, named Fr. Iñazio Azcoaga as our Visitator,; his role was to advice the Superior General and her Council, guiding the Commissions that worked on the new Constitutions and talking with all the Fraternas, accompanying our preparation for the Third General Assembly.

July 2022

All the Fraternas participated in the Third General Assembly at which the current Constitutions were approved, as the fruit of a journey forward in synodality. The new Constitutions received ecclesial approval from the Archbishop of Lima. At that Assembly, the members pondered the gift of the Fraterna vocation and made the decision to institutionally dissociate from the SCV, given that said association was not considered to be essential to define the nature and vocation of the Marian Community of Reconciliation. In addition, the Fraternas decided to assume the three evangelical counsels.

The MCR entrusts its history to the provident heart of God, and, in gratitude for the gift received, wants to continue responding arduously to the call that he makes to proclaim the Gospel in the midst of the world.

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