Pallottines

Society of the Catholic Apostolate
The Pallottines

The seal of the Society of the Catholic Apostolate
Abbreviation S.A.C.
Motto Latin: Caritas Christi urget nos
English: The love of Christ impels us
Formation 4 April 1835 (1835-04-04)
Type Roman Catholic Institute of Apostolic Life
Headquarters Piazza San Vincenzo Pallotti, 204
Rome, Italy
41°53′35″N 12°28′17″E / 41.89306°N 12.47139°E / 41.89306; 12.47139Coordinates: 41°53′35″N 12°28′17″E / 41.89306°N 12.47139°E / 41.89306; 12.47139
Membership
1,648 priests, 2,379 brothers (2010)
Rector General
Very Rev. Jacob Nampudakam, S.A.C.
Website www.sac.info

The Society of the Catholic Apostolate (Latin: Societas Apostolatus Catholici, abbreviated S.A.C.), better known as the Pallottines, are a Society of Apostolic Life within the Roman Catholic Church, founded in 1835 by the Roman priest Saint Vincent Pallotti. Pallottines are part of the Union of Catholic Apostolate and are present in 45 countries on six continents. The Pallottines administer one of the largest churches in the world, the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace of Yamoussoukro in Côte d'Ivoire.

History

Saint Vincent Pallotti was born in Rome in 1795. In the area of the city of Rome, together with a group of associates and collaborators, he developed in the city of Rome a large structure of apostolic activity. At the same time, he strove to unite and co-ordinate such activity. From this effort arose the idea of founding a new institution, that is, “the Union of Catholic Apostolate”, to unite all of the initiatives of apostolic activity. Vincent Pallotti died on January 22, 1850 without having seen the full development of his work. His closest collaborators continued his mission, ensuring further development of the Society. Vincent Pallotti was beatified in 1950 and canonized in 1963 during the Second Vatican Council.[1]

Charism

The charism of the Pallottines is to assist all in finding and living their apostolic vocation in life. St. Vincent Pallotti believed that all are called to revive faith, rekindle charity and be apostles. The Pallottines assist people in living these virtues.

Missions

Pallottine fathers

One example of their work was the Pallottine mission to Kamerun, established in 1890 in the German colony of Kamerun, today's Cameroon. From the late 1840s, when St. Vincent sent priests of the Society to England, St Mary Star Of The Sea Hastings, to the present, with the addition of Taiwan and the Philippines, the Pallottines have been expanding their missionary apostolate. The Pallottines administer schools in locations as diverse as Pennsauken, New Jersey (Bishop Eustace Preparatory School), Laurel, Maryland (St. Vincent Pallotti High School; run by the Pallottine Missionary Sisters), and Bruchsal, Germany (the St. Paulusheim Gymnasium). The Pallottines also founded and direct the Catholic Apostolate Center in Washington, D.C. to help strengthen the Society's mission, developing programs to do so.

The Society conducts parishes, schools, missions, clinics, retreat houses, all types of charitable works and scientific Institute for Catholic Church Statistics in Poland .

Pallottine Martyrs

Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, SJ, later Pope Francis, opened the cause in Argentina for beatification—the first step towards sainthood—for five members of the Pallottine community. The candidates for beatification are three priests and two seminarians killed by the military dictatorship in Argentina in 1976: Alfredo Leaden, Alfredo Kelly, Peter Duffau and seminarians Salvador Barbeito and Emilio Barletti. [2]

See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pallottines.
  1. "Saint Vincent Pallotti", Societas Apostolatus Catholici
  2. Sánchez Alvarado, Gretta (20 March 2013). "Francisco: 'El verdadero poder es el servicio'". El Naconal. Retrieved 22 March 2013.

Further reading

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