Let’s take a quick world tour of the summer’s highlights!
Our foreign brothers and sisters experienced some beautiful moments this summer.
Young Australian Rebecca was able to attend an international summer session in Paray-Le-Monial and take part in the Youth Jubilee in Rome.
In the United States, our brothers and sisters from the Emmanuel Community in Minnesota shared about their first theater-focused camp for children and teenagers: ARISE!
In Vietnam, we look back on the 10th edition of the Youth Forum, which brought together nearly 200 participants aged 18 to 28.
And finally, since we’re traveling, how could we not mention the Route of Emmanuel, from the Heart of Jesus to the Heart of Mary, with the Brothers of the Journey, who traveled from Paray to Lourdes?
Testimony from Rebecca – Australia
Last July, I had the opportunity to take part in an international summer session in Paray-Le-Monial with 100 other pilgrims from Australia. Our time in Paray was part of our jubilee pilgrimage, which began with a week in Rome before heading to Paray. The theme of the pilgrimage was “To the Source”, inviting us to encounter the heart of our Church and the heart of the Emmanuel Community.
Most of the pilgrims were members of the Emmanuel Community in Australia, but we were also blessed to be joined by others who shared this time of grace with us.
It was a true blessing to be in Rome, walking in the footsteps of the apostles and many saints who came before us. Visiting the Vatican and the tomb of Saint Peter was especially moving. I felt deeply connected to the roots of our faith and the universality of our Church. Praying in the great basilicas, celebrating Mass in such holy places, and sharing this journey with other pilgrims reminded me that faith is both personal and communal.
In Paray, what struck me from the very beginning was the joy of the Community — praising, praying, and simply being together. It wasn’t just a program of talks and liturgies; it was a real encounter with Christ through brothers and sisters who live their faith with simplicity. One of the most touching moments for me was visiting the tomb of Pierre Goursat (Editor’s note: founder of the Emmanuel Community). Standing in silence, I felt immense gratitude for his “yes” to God — a “yes” that has touched countless lives, including mine. The times spent in Eucharistic adoration were also deeply impactful. In the Chapel of the Apparitions, I knelt before the Sacred Heart, overwhelmed by the sense that Jesus was looking at me with love, inviting me to trust Him more.
Leaving this pilgrimage, I returned not only with beautiful memories but also with a renewed desire to live each day in the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This pilgrimage was not an end, but a new beginning.
ARISE! Theater Camp for Children – United States
At the Church of the Maternity of Mary in Saint Paul, Minnesota — a parish entrusted to three priests from the Emmanuel Community (Andrew Brinkman, Kevin Manthey, and Philippe Vigneron) — a new youth theater ministry called ARISE! was launched this year. ARISE! is designed for children and teenagers, offering them the opportunity to grow in faith while discovering and sharing their creative talents through music and theater.
In its first year, ARISE! organized three projects: a Christmas musical in December 2024, a spring project combining singing and theater in May 2025, and, from July 14 to 20, 2025, the very first ARISE! summer camp.
The summer camp brought together children and teens aged 8 to 18 to prepare and perform the musical Emmaus: Seek and You Shall Find. Thirty young people from Saint Paul participated, joined by ten teens and young adults from the Netherlands who supported the camp by leading dance rehearsals and helping with stage management, sound, and lighting.
Each day included times of prayer and praise, teachings on the story of Emmaus, games, crafts, small group sharing, and lots of laughter. The week concluded with two performances of the musical on Saturday and Sunday. On Sunday, the Archbishop of Saint Paul attended and was deeply moved by the show.
It was an incredible week of faith, creativity, and joy — a promising start to our summer camp tradition, and without a doubt, an experience we’re eager to repeat next year!
Youth Forum – Vietnam
This summer, we held our annual Youth Forum from July 11 to 13 at the Pastoral Center in Dalat, Vietnam, welcoming over 120 young people aged 18 to 28 from outside the Community, along with about 70 members of the Emmanuel Community (youth and families) who helped with organization and logistics.
The theme of this year’s Youth Forum was “Joy in Hope.” The young participants joined with great enthusiasm, embracing the charisms of the Community. Many were deeply touched by the various activities throughout the program, especially praise, Eucharistic adoration, Mass, confession, and spiritual accompaniment.
This was the 10th edition of the Youth Forum organized by the Emmanuel Community in Vietnam, and each year, young people eagerly await registration to be able to take part.
The Route of Emmanuel with the Brothers of the Journey – From Paray to Lourdes
From the Heart of Jesus to the Heart of Mary. The Brothers of the Journey set off from Paray at the end of the session on July 20, heading toward Lourdes via Le Puy-en-Velay, Brive-La-Gaillarde, Bergerac, and Langon. The 50 caravans that started the journey were joined by others along the way, and at each stop, local travelers came to participate in the prayer evenings. People were thirsty… In Bergerac, the caretaker of the large reception area was happy to welcome his first Catholic mission. In 10 years of doing this job, he had only seen evangelical missions… Thank you, Lord, for the grace of Emmanuel!
