HISTORY

In 1938, four young couples expressed the wish to live out their love in the light of their faith. They asked Father Henri Caffarel to guide them in this pursuit. “Let us journey together”, he replied. This was the begining of many years of spiritual journeying.

As early as on the 25th of February 1939, a first meeting was held in Paris. Other exciting meetings would follow. Gradually, the special place of the married couple in God’s plan unfolded for those young couples: they saw in it a living image of the love uniting Christ with his Church. At the same time, they experienced a community life in which Christ’s promise was realised: “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there in the midst of them” (Mt. 18:20).
Their life thus progressed in three dimensions: union with God, union between spouses and openness to others leading to union between couples.

Between 1939 and 1945, when France was in the middle of the Second World War, the couples’ work of reflection deepened and new couples joined them.

By 1947, due to the rapid growth and size of the movement, the need for a rule was felt. The Charter of the Teams of Our Lady was then drawn up and offered to couples who wished to live out a married spirituality. Thanks to the introduction of the Charter, Teams grew
rapidly in France and, as early as 1950, it had spread throughout the world.

In May 1970, following the Second Vatican Council and the International expansion of Teams, a five-day gathering took place in Rome. Addressing this gathering, Pope Paul VI reminded the
participants that human love is a way to holiness. Three years later, Father Caffarel retired to make way for a new leading team who would continue to respond to the needs of the time.

In 1975, Rome recognised the Teams as an “International Catholic Association”. The following year, a new gathering took place in Rome at which Pope Paul VI encouraged Teams “to continue as a true school of spirituality for couples”. It was on that occasion that the Teams of
Our Lady for the Young were founded.
From 1982 onwards, the movement developed its structures to suit its international character.

At Easter 1988, a large gathering took place in Lourdes at which the orientation “The Second Wind” was proposed to team members, providing a fresh impetus forty years after the introduction of the charter.

On Easter day 1992, Cardinal Pironio, president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, signed the decree of recognition of the Teams of Our Lady as an “Association of the Faithful in private law” and approved its Statutes “on an experimental basis”, in accordance with the new code of Canon Law.

In 1994, the 8th International Gathering of the Teams of Our Lady took place at Fatima on the theme of “To be a family today in the Church and in the world”. 5,100 members took part.

On the 18th of September 1996, Father Caffarel died at Troussures where he had founded a House of Prayer to which he retired in 1973 after handing over the spiritual direction of the Movement.

Four years later, in July 2000, the 9th International Gathering of Teams took place at Santiago of Compostela on the theme “The couple, Image of God the Trinity”. 8,000 team members took part. The orientation given for the following six years was “To be a couple in the Church and in the world”.

On the 26th of July 2002, the Pontifical Council for the Laity definitively approved the statutes of the Teams of Our Lady as an International / Association of the Faithful. This statement of approval stresses the apostolic impact of the Movement and describes its aims.

In September 2006, the 10th International Gathering of the Teams of our Lady was held at Lourdes on the theme: “The Teams of Our Lady, living communities of couples reflecting the love of Christ”.

The next International College and Regional couple meet was held at Rome from 20.1.2009 to 29.1.2009. 148 Regional Couples and 12 Chaplains from all over the world attended the conference. The main themes during the meeting were “service in teams”, the history and orientation of the movement in recent years, “where are the team going” and beatification of Fr. Henry Caffrel.

Welcome to all aspiring couples!