The eleven EAO delegates for the Apostleship of Prayer (AOP), with Fr Aloys Van Doren, Director General Delegate, met last October 9-14, 2006 in Seoul, South Korea.
Their sharing confirmed that the situation of the AOP of each province/region is different. It is active in some places but in others, there are difficulties in terms of manpower, collaboration with dioceses. Sometimes communication and collaboration with fellow Jesuits is not good. In some places, people do not know about the AOP.
The group is thereby challenged to find new ways of sharing AOP spirituality within the Society, with the clergy, with religious and lay collaborators. They recognized the need to strengthen the formation of core groups of collaborators at the national and diocesan levels. They also acknowledged that the Internet has proved to be an effective way of introducing people to AOP and for encouraging them to live out their Christian faith. The Internet community can be made more effective in encouraging participation in the Eucharist, group sharing and service.
Future efforts will always be geared towards the goal of AOP: a continuing integration of daily prayers and service as a way of live that can animate every church group and can form loyal members of the church who live the gospel spirit in daily life.