At the beginning of the 20th century, God prepared a sixteen-year-old youth to carry out a work that would place at the service of the Gospel all forms of communication originating from human progress. The young man’s name was James Alberione. As a seminarian praying before Jesus in the Eucharist in the Cathedral of Alba, on the night marking the beginning of the twentieth century (December 31, 1900), he felt Jesus’ invitation to “do something for the Lord and for the people of the new century.” How? By announcing the Gospel from “new pulpits” such as the press, cinema, radio, television, and today, the digital world.
From this interior experience, with its humble beginnings in 1914, the Pauline Family gradually took on the face that would concretize the great charism contained in Blessed James Alberione’s heart:
TO LIVE AND GIVE TO THE WORLD JESUS CHRIST,
MASTER, WAY AND TRUTH AND LIFE.
He affirms: “The Pauline Family was inspired by Saint Paul to continue his work; it is Saint Paul alive; however, today it is composed of many members.” The members of the Pauline Family are sent out everywhere to “give the charity of the Truth.”
The Pauline Family is made up of five religious Congregations, one Lay Association and four Institutes of Secular Consecrated Life. All are connected to one another by the same spirituality and by a profound bond of communion. Speaking about this intense relationship, our Founder said: “There is a strong family bond among us because we were all born from the Tabernacle. We all share the same spirit, namely: to live Jesus Christ and serve the Church.”
Five Religious Congregations
Society of St. Paul (SSP) – Priests and brothers founded on August 20, 1914 who have the mission to live and give Jesus Way, Truth and Life in the culture of communication. www.stpaulusa.com
Daughters of St. Paul (FSP) – Founded on June 15, 1915. Consecrated women and apostles who live Christ as Saint Paul lived him and are sent by the Church to evangelize in the modern Areopagus of communication so that Christ, made “image, word, song…,” may reach all peoples. www.daughtersofstpaul.com
Sister Disciples of the Divine Master (PDDM) – Founded on February 10, 1924, the Sister Disciples are drawn to Jesus Master, living in the Eucharist, the priesthood and in the Liturgy; they follow him, they celebrate him and they communicate him by the way of beauty. They offer continuous Eucharistic Adoration, and carry out hospitality in the spirit of the family of Bethany. www.pddm.us
Sisters of Jesus, the Good Shepherd (SGBP) – The “Pastorelle Sisters” were founded on October 7, 1938 to accompany the priest in the exercise of his pastoral ministry for the growth of Christian communities through evangelization, catechesis, liturgical animation and the formation of pastoral workers. www.pastorelle.org
Sisters of Mary, Queen of Apostles (AP) – The “Apostoline Sisters” were founded on September 8, 1959. They are at the service of the evangelization of life as vocation, especially to young people, who are the first in search of the meaning of their life and vocation in the Church and in the world. www.apostoline.it
Four Institutes of Secular Consecrated Life
Institute of Jesus Priest (IGS) – Approved on April 8, 1960 as an Institute for diocesan priests who, as vowed members of the Pauline Family, live the same spirituality of the Pauline Family, and through the profession of the evangelical counsels commit themselves to an ever more perfect imitation of the eternal priest Jesus Christ. www.instituteofjesuspriest.org
Institute of Saint Gabriel the Archangel (ISGA) – The “Gabrielites” were approved on April 8, 1960 and are single laymen who live a vowed consecrated life, share in the Pauline spiritual and apostolic ideals while working in the secular world. www.instituteofsaintgabrielthearchangel.org
Institute of Our Lady of the Annunciation (IMSA) – The “Annunciationists” were approved on April 8, 1960 and are an Institute of single laywomen who live their vowed consecration in the midst of the world. They strive for holiness with a particular Pauline quality of spiritual caring, sharing, and being a Christian in today’s world. www.instituteofourladyoftheannunciation.org
Institute of the Holy Family (ISF) – The “Holy Family Institute (HFI)” was approved on March 19, 1963. These Christian spouses live a journey of evangelical perfection in the world, inspired by the Holy Family of Nazareth, with the aim of sanctifying married and family life, and being a leaven of evangelical witness in society. www.hflusa.org
Lay Association
Association of Pauline Cooperators (APC) – Founded on June 30, 1917, the “Pauline Cooperators” are lay members involved in varied ways in society, called to “live” the Pauline mission in all its expressions in the exercise of their apostolate through prayer, works and offerings, exercising the Pauline mission of communicating Christ through various forms of media and striving for holiness in their state in life. www.daughtersofstpaul.com/cooperators
