Koinonia Jan Křtitel - Oáza Plzeň

Koinonia John The Baptist (Koinonia Giovanni Battista) was born after a powerful outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Argentinean priest P. Ricardo Argaňaraz in 1974. He settled (at first alone) in the abandoned mountain village of Camparmò on the slope of Mt. Pasubio in northern Italy. After some time a few brothers and sisters joined him determined to follow Jesus in virginity for the kingdom of heaven, in friendship and in the power of prayer. In 1978 the community’s fundamental program was established – new evangelization in the light of Jesus’ resurrection, and on January 1st 1979, the Koinonia was officially founded in Loreto.

As the community grew larger it accepted a federative form of organization. It is part of the Catholic Church and is canonically approved by many bishops in accordance with can.299 of the Code of Canon Law and in accordance with can.573 of the Code of Canon Law of the Greek Catholic Church. Its work is characterized by the principle KeKaKo. KeKaKo stands for the three key evangelization aspects of Jesus’ words from the gospel of John 15:16: “I appointed you to go (proclaim kerygma) and bear fruit (by the power of charisms), fruit that remains (in community – koinonia)”. The central point of the community’s vision and at the same time its fundamental activity is the “House of Prayer”: a community bound by strong friendship, living prayer under the power of the Holy Spirit; a community which bears witness to the joy which comes from Christ’s resurrection.

In subsequent years couples with children and other people living in the world have been incorporated into the Koinonia. Today the entire Koinonia is made up of Communities of Life (brothers and sisters living in virginity and sharing all their property together) and Familial Communities (families, singles, widowed people etc.). Generally one community of life together with several familial communities create an Oasis (led by a pastor). All the oases together form the Federation of Koinonia John the Baptist.

Currently Koinonia John the Baptist has over 4000 members in all five continents, of which almost 200 are consecrated members belonging to Communities of Life (located in Europe, America, Africa and in the Middle East). The community came to the Czech Republic on the invitation of His Eminence the Bishop of Plzeň (Pilsen) František Radkovský in 1995. Soon afterwards the community established its first Czech Oasis in Plzeň-Litice. Today the pastor of this Oasis is Fr. Francesco Meneghini. More than 300 brothers and sisters belong to this Oasis forming 11 Familial Communities throughout the Czech Republic. There are about 35 consecrated brothers and sisters from the Czech Republic and abroad living in the three Communities of Life located near Plzeň. They offer the public various meetings and activities such as courses, seminars, a biblical correspondence school, meetings for children, youth, married couples and others.

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