The Pauline Family constitutes 5 Religious Congregations, 4 Secular Institutes, and Lay Collaborators or Cooperators. The five (5) religious congregations are: • The Society of St. Paul (20 August 1914) • The Daughters of St. Paul, or the “Paulines” (15 June 1915), • The Pious Disciples of the Divine Master (10 February 1924), • The Sisters of Jesus Good Shepherd, or the “Pastorelle” Sisters (7 October 1938) • Sisters of Mary Queen of Apostles; or the “Apostoline” Sisters (8 September 1959)
Four associated institutes: • Institute of Jesus the Priest (8 April 1960); • Institute of Saint Gabriel the Archangel (8 April 1960), • Institute of Our Lady of the Annunciation (8 April 1960), • Institute of the Holy Family (19 March 1993); • Association of Pauline Cooperators.
The Society of Saint Paul (SSP) is a religious congregation, founded in 1914 at Alba, in Italy, by Fr. James Alberione. Its members are known as the Paulines. They communicate the Christian message with the use of the modern means of communication. They are present in 32 countries. They are active in many fields: editorial and bookstores, journalism, cinematography, television, radio, audiovisual, multimedia, telematics; centres of studies, research, formation, animation.
The Daughters of St. Paul (FSP) are consecrated women committed to follow Jesus in a radical manner and to proclaim the Good News to all peoples through the means of social communication. They call themselves Paulines, because St. Paul is their father, patron and inspirer. They imitate him in his deep love for Jesus and in his total dedication to the preaching of the Good News.
The Pious Disciples of the Divine Master (PDDM) carry out the Eucharistic-Priestly-Liturgical apostolate. The apostolate of the Pious Disciples of the Divine Master consists primarily in the witness of their life which they are to foster through prayer and penance. In accordance with their specific end, they honor Jesus Master Way, truth and life in their apostolic action at the service of the Eucharist which springs from the love of Jesus Master present in the mystery of the church of Christ; service and collaboration with the priestly zeal which arises from the love of Jesus Master living in the Priesthood, and service of the Liturgy which is derived from the love of Jesus Master present in the Church.
The Sisters of Jesus Good Shepherd (SGBP), or the “Pastorelle” Sisters (7 October 1938) are dedicated to parish work, sharing various pastoral activities with the parish priest. Their apostolate is characterized by the service of the Word in evangelization, catechesis, liturgical animation and the education of pastoral leaders. They are also open to other forms of service such as: education, parish animation, etc. They carry out their mission in close collaboration with the pastors with a joint sense of responsibility that flows from the complementarily of gifts in mutual esteem and trust. This sharing of intent and initiatives is aimed at giving rise to new form of cooperation in the Christian Community for the service of the whole Church.
The Sisters of Mary Queen of Apostles (8 September 1959) called “the Apostolines,” they were founded in 1957 to fulfill a request of the Holy See. Their specific apostolate is the search for, care of and direction of priestly and religious vocations in the Church. Their motto is: “All vocations for all apostolates.” The Apostoline Sisters work in a special way with young people who show signs of having a vocation and direct them to the Institutes for which they are best suited. Their life and mission is inseparably fused with an interior life nourished by the Eucharist. Their intense apostolic activities are carried out through the most advanced techniques of diffusion: in printed words, films, radio, television programs, etc. They organize exhibits, conventions, vocation days, prayer triduum and week-long retreats for vocation.
THE SECULAR INSTITUTES (AGGREGATED TO THE SOCIETY OF ST. PAUL):
Institute of Our Lady of the Annunciation (April 8, 1960) is an institute aggregated to the Society of St. Paul whose lifestyle is that of the “secular institutes.” The members, called Annunciationists, are women totally consecrated to God by means of the three evangelical vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. But they live their consecration remaining and living in the world. The members share the same spirituality as all Paulines, and that is, to follow Christ who is the Way, Truth and the Life, in such a way as to incarnate Him in their lives and thus be able to say with St. Paul: “The life I live now is not my own; Christ is living in me” (Gal. 2:20).
The Institute of St. Gabriel Archangel, (for men, young and adult): are lay persons, without any religious mark of distinction. They live at home, work in schools, offices, factories and carry out witnessing within these institutions. They, however, remain consecrated persons… They shall be ‘salt’ and ‘leaven’ in the contemporary world… They shall be consecrated to God and dedicated to the apostolate in the world and with the means of the world… in order that to all men Christ may be proclaimed, He who meets, rather overcomes, all the longings of the human spirit: Christ, Way, Truth and Life… The Society of St. Paul, which is like the mother of the other Institutes, has to give them the Pauline spirit…
Institute of the Holy Family (19 March 1993). This institute is for married Christians who wish to consecrate their lives in the Pauline spirit, according to their state in life. Members take private vows (in a public, Church regulated ceremony) of poverty, chastity and obedience and make a promise of fidelity to the Pope and the Magisterium of the Roman Catholic Church. These vows are adapted according to the conditions of the married state and the normal requirements of family life. The Institute was begun in 1960 and received full approbation from the Holy See in 1993.
Institute of Jesus the Priest (8 April 1960): for Bishops and priests of the diocesan clergy, with the aim of assisting them on the spiritual plane and in the ministry entrusted to them, to give them a greater efficacy through the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience and through the media of social communication. The Institute offers to its members — human, spiritual and supernatural assistance — for their own sanctification and for a pastoral ministry always more open and updated according to the directives of the Church.
Association of Pauline Cooperators (1915) are committed lay faithful who, animated by the same Pauline spirit and in union with the Pauline Family, strive to live their Christian life better each day for the glory of God and for the salvation of humanity. They are genuine Christians who, while living in the world, support the mission and ideals of the Pauline Family in varying degrees of participation – spiritual and apostolic sharing of talents, time and finances (cf. DCSSP, 32).