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THE Congregation of the Holy Spirit - C.S.Sp [SPIRITANS]
Short history
OUR BEGINNING Claude Poullart des Places was born in Brittany, France in 1679. In 1703, while studying for the priesthood, he founded the seminary of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit to support destitute seminarians and prepare them for ministry among the most neglected of the population. He was ordained a priest in 1707. He died on 2nd October 1709 at the age of 30. Francis Libermann was born into a Jewish family at Severn, France in 1802. At the age of 24 he was baptised a Catholic in Paris. In 1841 he was ordained a priest and founded the Society of the Holy Heart of Mary to minister to the black population in the French Colonies and in particular to liberate slaves. In 1847 his Society fused with the Congregation of the Holy Spirit. Francis died in Paris on 2nd February 1852. In 1910 Pope Saint Pius X declared him Venerable.
SPIRITANS TODAY Spiritans are missionaries who, led by the Holy Spirit, live and work in five continents. They try to live close to the people and churches that welcome them. During their three hundred years of missionary work they have played their part in the birth of many local churches. Today many of their members are drawn from these same local churches. On October 29, 1859 three French Spiritan priests and one brother arrived in Kingstown (Dun Laoghaire) and so began the Irish Province. The opening of Blackrock College in 1860 began the Spiritan involvement in education in Ireland. Other foundations followed: Rockwell College (1864), St. Mary’s College, (1890), St. Michael’s College (1944) and Templeogue College (1966). The Congregation is committed to education today and into the future through the setting up of des Places Educational Association. |
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