under the protection of the Immaculate Heart of the Virgin Mary
Congregation of the Holy Spirit
We are a Roman Catholic Congregation of Priests, Brothers and Lay Associates, founded in 1703 by a young French nobleman – Claude Poullart des Places – who gave up the practice of law to study for the priesthood. He founded a community for young men who wished to become priests and dedicated it to the Holy Spirit.
About 150 years later, also in France, Francis Libermann, a converted Jew, started another religious family: the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The two congregations, both dedicated to the evangelization and service of the poor, later became one: The Congregation of the Holy Spirit under the protection of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
History & Figures
It is a story that spans more than three centuries, criss-crosses continents in war-time and in peace, and features the selflessness of thousands of priests, brothers and lay persons who have forgone society’s aspirations to power, prestige, and wealth. Rather, they made and continue to make profound sacrifices to minister to the poor and disadvantaged.
General Administration
The Superior General, assisted by his Council, “confirms his fellow members in their Spiritan calling, in keeping with the sprit of the Founders and the living tradition of the Institute. He makes the unity among all Spiritans a reality. He assures the unity of all with the Church. He strives for the common good and the vitality of the Congregation.” (SRL 192)
Our Vocation
“In the midst of God’s people,
among the numerous and varied vocations
which the Holy Spirit inspires,
we Spiritans are called by the Father
and “set apart” (Acts 13:2) to follow Jesus
and to announce the Good News of the Kingdom.“
Spiritan Rule of Life (SRL), 2
Religious Life
“We respond to this call in a religious missionary institute,
the Congregation of the Holy Spirit
under the protection of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
The charisms of our Founders,
Claude Poullart des Places and Francis Libermann,
and fidelity to our tradition
urge us to respond creatively
to the needs of evangelisation of our time.”
SRL 2
Apostolic Life
“The “apostolic life” is at the heart
of our Spiritan vocation.
So that we may lead this apostolic life
in Christ’s footsteps,
our consecration includes three
essential dimensions:
the proclamation of the Good News,
the practice of the evangelical counsels
and a life in fraternal and praying community.”
SRL 3
Our Mission
“The evangelisation of the “poor” (cf. Lk 4:18)
is our purpose.
Therefore we go especially
to peoples, groups and individuals
who have not yet heard the message of the Gospel
or who have scarcely heard it,
to those whose needs are the greatest,
and to the oppressed.
We also willingly accept tasks
for which the Church has difficulty
in finding workers.“
SRL 4
Dedication
“We are dedicated to the Holy Spirit,
author of all holiness
and “source of the apostolic spirit” .
We place ourselves under the protection
of the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
who was filled beyond measure
by the same Spirit
“with the fullness of holiness
and apostolic zeal”.
SRL 6
Our motto
“In keeping with our ideal of a life
that is both fraternal and apostolic,
we take for our motto the words
used to describe the early Christian communities:
“One heart and one soul” (cf. Acts 4:32).
SRL 7
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