Who Are the Spiritans and What Is Their History?

Updated

The Spiritans are the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, a Catholic religious congregation of priests, brothers, and lay associates founded in France in 1703 by Claude Poullart des Places and later merged in 1848 with the Society of the Holy Heart of Mary founded by Francis Libermann. Their charism centers on mission to the poor and marginalized, and today the U.S. Province is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with ministries spanning parishes, education, and international missions in Africa, Latin America, and Asia.

What Is the Congregation of the Holy Spirit?

The Congregation of the Holy Spirit — commonly called the Spiritans — is a missionary religious community in the Catholic Church. According to the U.S. Province website (spiritans.org), it is organized as the Province of the United States, based in Pittsburgh, PA.

The congregation describes its work through three broad areas:

  • Evangelization, Justice, and Peace — including racial justice and welcoming the stranger
  • Parish Ministries and Education — including Duquesne University and Holy Ghost Preparatory School
  • International Ministries — with missions in Africa, Latin America, and Asia

The site also lists Lay Spiritan Associates, meaning the Spiritan charism is not limited to vowed religious but is shared with laypeople who associate with the congregation.

Who Founded the Spiritans?

Two figures stand at the foundation of the congregation, and the website treats both as founders:

Claude Poullart des Places (1679–1709)

Poullart des Places founded the Congregation of the Holy Spirit in 1703 in Paris. His original purpose was to form poor students for the priesthood and to send them to serve in neglected missions. He died young, but the community he started endured.

Francis Libermann (1802–1852)

Libermann founded the Society of the Holy Heart of Mary, dedicated to the evangelization of formerly enslaved people and mission territories. In 1848, that society merged with the Congregation of the Holy Spirit. Libermann became the superior of the united congregation and is regarded as its second founder. The website lists him alongside Poullart des Places under "Our History."

Other Key Figures

The site's history section also highlights two beatified Spiritans:

Figure Recognition Note
Bl. Daniel Brottier, C.S.Sp. Beatified Listed among the congregation's key figures
Bl. Jacques Laval, C.S.Sp. Beatified Known for mission work; listed among key figures

What Is the U.S. Province Timeline?

The website provides a U.S. Province Timeline as part of its "Our History" section. The timeline traces how the Spiritans established and grew their presence in the United States, leading to the current Province of the United States based in Pittsburgh. For the specific dates and milestones, the timeline page on spiritans.org is the authoritative source.

What Do Spiritans Do Today?

The congregation's current ministries, as listed on the site, include:

Education

  • Duquesne University
  • Holy Ghost Preparatory School
  • Spiritan Education Resources

Parish Ministries

International Ministries across:

  • Africa — Tanzania, South Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, Ghana
  • Latin America — Mexico, Dominican Republic, São Paulo, Brazil
  • Asia — Taiwan, Philippines, Vietnam
  • Rome, Italy — Spiritan Center

Mission and Outreach

  • Mission Response Priorities
  • Annual Mission Appeals
  • Office for Mission Advancement
  • Volunteer programs
  • Welcoming the Stranger (refugee and immigrant outreach)
  • Spiritan Grants
  • Spiritan Refugee Service Tanzania

How Can You Learn More or Get Involved?

The website offers several entry points depending on your interest:

  • Exploring vocation — "Listening to God's Call" and "Path to the Spiritan Life"
  • Becoming a lay associate — "Become A Lay Spiritan"
  • Spirituality and prayer — Prayer Requests, Prayer to the Holy Spirit, Spiritan Rule of Life
  • Staying informed — Daily Readings and Weekly Reflections, Newsletters, Spiritan News
  • Supporting the mission — Donate, Planned Giving, Corporate Match, Required Minimum Distribution

The site also maintains a Necrology (memorial of deceased members) and a Members Login area, indicating some content is reserved for members.

Summary

The Spiritans are a Catholic missionary congregation with roots in 18th-century France and a dual founding heritage — Claude Poullart des Places and Francis Libermann. Their U.S. Province, headquartered in Pittsburgh, carries out evangelization, education, justice work, and international missions. The official website, spiritans.org, is run by the Province of the United States and serves as the primary source for its history, ministries, and ways to engage.