Provides insights and suggestions on the vision and practicalities of small Christian communities, or basic ecclesial communities. These communities are neither mere pastoral strategies nor part of a helping movement in the church; they are church. Furthermore they are emerging as one of the most significant ways in which the Spirit is implementing the communitarian vision of church proposed by Vatican II. An improvement on earlier books, this benefits from years of experience in many parts of the world: much of the writing is new, the spirituality more developed, and the theological, spiritual and practical elements better integrated. The author has enlisted enormously experienced and knowledgeable people to write about the communities on their own continents. The profiles update the situation to the turn of the millennium and are as complete as any available. Clear about the elements of a viable ecclesial vision for the 21st century.""--National Catholic Reporter. ""One of the best introductions to small Christian communities.""--The Tablet. ""This book is a must for anyone involved with small Christian communities. The Trinitarian vision is stupendous.""-INK. James O'Halloran is a Salesian priest who has worked with small Christian communities for over thirty years.