Having
founded the UAC in 1835, St. Vincent saw the need for a permanent
structure if the UAC would live on after his death. He initiated
the founding of communities of consecrated persons who could
devote themselves full time to this work.
Each
of these communities has expanded far beyond the city of Rome
and are present throughout the world.
Over
the years, additional communities have been instituted, often
by a member of one of the founding communities mentioned above.
These communities are specifically characterized by the Pallottine
Charism and belong to the Union of the Catholic Apostolate.
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1921
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The
Sisters of the Catholic Apostolate of St. Hildegarde
were founded in Germany by a Pallottine Father as
a congregation of women without vows living in community. |
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1928
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The
Theresian Sisters of the Catholic Apostolate, also
a congregation of women without vows but living in
community, were founded in Germany by a Pallottine
Father. |
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1934
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APIS,
a secular institute of unmarried working women, was
founded by Pallottine Fathers in Switzerland. |
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1948
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The
Eucharistic Sisters of St. Vincent Pallotti became
a separate branch of the Sisters of the Catholic Apostolate
emphasizing Vincent’s love of the Eucharist
and the practice of adoration. |
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1950
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The
Pallottine Bishop of the Missioinary Diocese of Oudtshoorn
in South Africa founded a secular institute, the Institute
of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. |
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1958
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The
Society of the Sisters of Divine Love was instituted
by the Pallottine Bishop in Queenstown, South Africa. |
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1959
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The
Marian Institute, lay women living in the world but
bound by promises, was founded by a Pallottine priest
in Australia. |
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1960
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The
Sisters of the Catholic Apostolate (Kristsevikas)
was established as a Secular Institute in Raipur,
India. |
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1963
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A
secular institute known as the Marian Institute of
the Catholic Apostolate was founded in Bolivia in
cooperation with the Cardinal Archbishop of Sucre.
The
community of the Sisters of Divine Love was founded
in South Africa. |
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1965
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The
community Ancilla-Kreis (Handmaids of Christ) of the
Catholic Apostolate of Vincent Pallotti was founded
in Germany. |
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1966
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The
Austrian Region of the Society of the Catholic Apostolate
organized the Laienverband des Katholischen Apostolates
(Lay Community of the Catholic Apostolate) |
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1970
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The
Italian Province of the Society of the Catholic Apostolate
organized a lay community, Quinta Dimensione (Fifth
Dimension). |
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1984
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The
community Respuesta Cristiana (The Christian Answer)
was founded in Argentina. |
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1996
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In
Germany the community Circolo dell’Apostolato
Hoffstetten (Apostolic Circle of Hoffstetten) was
founded in Germany. |
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|
|
 With
Vatican II came renewed interest in realizing the Founder’s
vision for a world-wide union of laity, religious, and clergy.
In recent years the Union has been reorganized as a communion
(communio) of individual persons and of communities inspired
by the charism of St. Vincent Pallotti who appeal to all the
baptized to revive faith and re-kindle charity in the Church
and in the world, thus bringing all to unity in Christ.”
Apostolic communities and individuals who identify with the
Pallottine inspiration are received into the Union which is
committed to their on-going apostolic formation, most often
through a structure known as a Cenacle,
a name which calls to mind the Upper Room at Pentecost. Many
Cenacles have come into existence in the United States and
Canada over the last several years.
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