In the last days – the Lord declares – I shall pour out my Spirit on all humanity. Your sons and daughters shall prophesy, your young people shall see visions, your old people dream dreams. Even on the slaves, men and women, shall I pour out my Spirit. (Acts 2:17-18)

The Community was officially erected as a Public Association of the Vicariate of Southern Arabia by a decree of His Excellency Bishop Paul Hinder on October 11, 2012, the fiftieth anniversary of the Opening of the Second Vatican Council, the twentieth anniversary of the promulgation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the feast of Blessed Pope John XXIII and most importantly, the (former) feast of the Motherhood of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

 Springtime of the Spirit 

Welcome the new springtime which the Spirit is now bringing about in the Church, not least through the ecclesial movements and the new communities. “In his gifts the Spirit is multifaceted… He breathes where he wills. He does so unexpectedly, in unexpected places, and in ways previously unheard of… but he also shows us that he works with a view to the one body and in the unity of the one body”. (Letter of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI on the 150th Anniversary of ‘Dies Natalis’ of the Cure of Ars)

The essential things in history begin always with the small, more convinced communities. So, the Church begins with the twelve Apostles. And even the Church of St. Paul diffused in the Mediterranean are little communities, but this community in itself is the future of the world, because we have the truth and the force of conviction. This is springtime — a new life in very convinced persons with joy of the faith. But from these small numbers we will have a radiation of joy in the world. And so, it’s an attraction, as it was in the old Church. And so, I would say, if we have young people really with the joy of the faith and this radiation of this joy of the faith, this will show to the world, “Even if I cannot share it, even if I cannot convert it at this moment, here is the way to live for tomorrow.” (Pope Benedict XVI, 2003)

From the time the Lord Jesus ascended into Heaven and poured out on His Apostles the Holy Spirit, there have always been movements of the same Spirit among the people of God, stirring them to form associations, communities and societies to fulfil the missionary mandate that Jesus their Master and Lord has given the Church to go and make disciples of all nations (Mathew 28:18). Pope John Paul II wrote, "No believer in Christ, no institution of the Church can avoid this supreme duty: to proclaim Christ to all peoples." God, the Lord of time and history, the Alpha and the Omega (Revelations 1:8), has always raised up a variety of missionary charisms in the Church (1 Corinthians 12:4-11), through the ever new creativity and generosity of the Holy Spirit, each according to the need of the hour.

The Community of Grace, a missionary Community formed with the aim of leading all people to the Catholic Faith and strengthening the faithful in their Sacramental life, ascribes itself to be a fruit of the Second Vatican Council. The Community seeks to fulfill its mission by means of a unique apostolic charism (1 Corinthians 12:27-28) imparted to it through the founder Br. O. J. Victor. This unique charism enables the Community to treasure Sacred Scripture in the heart (Luke 2:19), discern every spirit (1 Corinthians 12:10, 1 John 4:1), deliver people from bondages (1 John 3:8) and reveal to all men the jewels of wisdom and knowledge hidden in the Son of God, Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:2-3).