The Light-Life Movement

By 1975 the idea of the Living Church had begun to influence rank-and-file Catholics as well as the clergy and hierarchy. Between 1974 and 1976 the number of members trebled from seven to twenty thousand while the whole movement went through a period of intensive development. In 1975 Pope Paul VI announced his programme of evangelisation in the modem world, arguing that if the Church is to be constantly renewed, evangelisation must continue within the Church. New men must be found to form the new society of the future. These words were taken as a directive by the leaders of the Living Church movement, who decided to make evangelisation one of their main aims.

In March 1976 during the first congress of Oasis leaders the movement adopted a new name, Light-Life, and formulated a new aim: all members of the movement, regardless of their age and status in the Church, should strive towards Christian maturity not only through studying God’s word, the liturgy and prayer but also through witness and active service. The next summer the first Oasis for evangelisation took place and the movement embarked on a programme of renewal of the Polish Church. A new type of instruction was introduced— “deutero-katechumenat” (second catechesis) which involved educating baptised Christians to confirm their absolute wil­lingness to bear witness to Christ and accept all the consequences of their faith. The second catechesis was designed as a three-year programme, involving three stages of Christian maturity — meeting Christ, renewal of baptismal vows and witnessing to Christ in the community. This was to be carried out during summer retreats and dining the post-Oasis period within the parish communities.