# Shalom Catholic Community

The Shalom Catholic Community (Portuguese: Comunidade Católica Shalom, abbreviated CCSh) is an International Private Association of Faithful within the Catholic Church, founded on July 9, 1982, in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil, by Moysés Louro Azevedo Filho. Affiliated with the Catholic Charismatic Renewal (RCC), it was recognized by the Holy See on February 22, 2007, and its statutes were definitively approved by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012. The community is headquartered at the Diaconia Geral in Aquiraz, Ceará, and is present in over 160 dioceses across more than 40 countries, focusing on the evangelization of youth through missions, events, and prayer groups.

## History
### Foundation

The Shalom Catholic Community was established in 1982 by Moysés Azevedo, then 22, who opened a cafeteria in Fortaleza as a means to evangelize young people. This initiative was inspired by a 1980 encounter with Pope John Paul II during the X International Eucharistic Congress, an event considered the community's "founding myth." Azevedo symbolically offered his life to the Pope, leading to the creation of the first Shalom Evangelization Center. Emmir Nogueira joined as co-founder in 1983, aiding its early growth.

### Expansion and Recognition

From the 1990s, the CCSh expanded across Brazil and internationally, reaching countries like France, Canada, and Italy. By 2018, it was active in over 160 dioceses in 40+ countries. The **Festival Halleluya**, launched in 1997, became a flagship evangelization event, drawing large crowds annually. The community received pontifical recognition in 2007, with its statutes approved in 2012 by Pope Benedict XVI. In 2017, approximately 3,000 members were received by Pope Francis at the Vatican.

## Structure and Operation

The CCSh is divided into three branches:Life Community (CV): ~1,600 members living in communal residences under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.Covenant Community (CA): ~11,000 lay members integrating the Shalom charism into secular life. Shalom Work: ~20,000 participants attending prayer groups and events without formal commitment.
Its headquarters, the Diaconia Geral, is located in Aquiraz, Ceará. Since 2019, it operates Shalom FM 91.7 in Fortaleza. Leadership is centralized under Moysés Azevedo as Moderator General, blending charismatic and bureaucratic authority.

## Charism and Spirituality

The community's charism rests on contemplation, unity, and evangelization, inspired by St. Teresa of Ávila and St. Francis of Assisi. It emphasizes an "spousal love" for God and practices like the "baptism in the Spirit" and glossolalia, rooted in the RCC. Members of the Life Community follow an ascetic routine, while Covenant members adapt these practices to daily life. The Tau symbol is adopted after two years of formation.

## Sociological Analysis

The CCSh is studied for its blend of charismatic leadership and rational institutionalization. Moysés Azevedo’s authority is seen as divinely ordained, while Emmir Nogueira plays a supportive, interpretive role, reflecting traditional gender dynamics in Catholicism. This structure challenges and complements Weber’s theory of charisma routinization.