Comunita di Sant'Egidio, USA (International)

The community of Sant'Egidio (St. Giles) was born in Rome in 1968 through the initiative of a young high school student. Since the beginning, its members have been committed to evangelization and solidarity with the poor and the weak. The Community has its heart in the small Roman church of Sant'Egidio, from which it takes its name. From Rome, the Community spread to Naples, Genoa, Florence, Milan, Bari and other Italian cities. After a while it reached more than 20 countries world wide. The membership of the Community is approximately 15,000 - two thirds of whom are in Italy. It is made up of many small groups - "small communities" - people who share the same spirituality while they measure themselves against the Gospel by :

reading the signs of the times in their own varying circumstances; serving the poor; working for peace.

The members of the Community are involved in various services to the poor; this commitment is completely voluntary and unpaid. Sant'Egidio members are called to serve and be friends, a vocation which requires a daily conversion. The social work performed by the Community of Sant'Egidio is composed of many different elements reflecting the complex present-day patterns of poverty. Currently, the Community befriends and takes care of many poor, sick, and homeless people, as well as needy foreigners.

The unusual contribution of Sant'Egidio is in the field of peacemaking. Through personal relationships and an active diplomacy of friendship, the Community of Sant'Egidio is close to many countries which have been suffering for many years because of injustice and war. Some of the countries they have assisted are: Mozambique, Lebanon, El Salvador, Guatemala, Rumania, Albania, Armenia, the Horn of Africa, and Algeria. In this sense, humanitarian help has accompanied efforts to make peace between different political parties, and also to create solidarity with the Church and people of different religions and beliefs. The Community of Sant'Egidio acted as a mediator in the talks for peace in Mozambique (1990-1992). A more recent, very effective, involvement has been in the Algerian crisis (1994-1995). They are a practical demonstration of the value of citizen diplomacy.

The activities of the Community are financed through the voluntary contributions of its members, private donations, and the support of friends. For some activities, government funding covers part of the operating expenses.

The most important and difficult challenges to overcome have been created by our own personal and spiritual limits.