Our History
Origins of the Union of the Catholic Apostolate
Original inspiration of St. Vincent Pallotti in 1835
St. Vincent’s new society was committed to addressing the many social needs of the day. He took a particular interest in the young girls orphaned by the political upheaval of the day and the cholera plague. In June of 1838 the Society opened a house of refuge and education, the “Pia Casa di Carità,” or “Pious House of Charity” for them and entrusted them to the care of several pious women. The Founder dressed them in the habit of the Third Order of St. Francis. The work was able to go forward with the assistance of committed laity. While the religious and civil education of young girls has always had a prominence in the apostolic works of the community, changing times required changing apostolates
Thus was born the Pious Society of the Catholic Apostolate which today is known as the Union of the Catholic Apostolate, an association of religious, clergy and laity. The main apostolic thrust of our religious communities today takes its tone from this original inspiration. We see our task as that of reviving faith, rekindling charity and fostering unity. We see that these ends are consistent with our understanding of
Pope John Paul II’s call for a “new evangelization” in today’s Church.
Beginnings of the Sisters of the Catholic Apostolate
Original Foundation in 1838 & Our Early Years in Italy
St. Vincent’s new society was committed to addressing the many social needs of the day. He took a particular interest in the young girls orphaned by the political upheaval of the day and the cholera plague. In June of 1838 the Society opened a house of refuge and education, the “Pia Casa di Carità,”or “Pious House of Charity” for them and entrusted them to the care of several pious women. The Founder dressed them in the habit of the Third Order of St. Francis. The work was able to go forward with the assistance of committed laity.
While the religious and civil education of young girls has always had a prominence in the apostolic works of the community, changing times required changing apostolates
Circumstances forced the Society and St. Vincent to overcome many practical difficulties with a spirit of flexibility and a willingness to adapt to the demands of the actual situation. Vincent abandoned his original intention to found a contemplative community which would support his work with prayer. Instead he commissioned all the Sisters to take on apostolic work in a spirit of generous freedom.
Here began the first apostolic work of those who would come to be known as the Sisters of the Catholic Apostolate, a work that continues today, reflecting in many ways the vision of St. Vincent for a society which fostered unity among priests, religious and laity and is dedicated to fostering the apostolic call of all God’s faithful. Reviving the faith and rekindling the charity of all the baptized through prayer and action.
Earliest Days of the United States Province
Coming to the United States to Serve Italian Immigrant 1889 – 1930’s
In the late 1800’s the united states welcomed masses of people from all over europe. like many religious who came to serve the immigrants of their home country, our sisters, at the invitation of the pallottine fathers, came from italy to the city of new york to service the italians who had come to settle here.
But as in the case of the pia casa di carità,, the little community of sisters had very trying beginnings: adaptation and adjustments were required when the original plans did not work out. there was need for a school at the new parish and the language barrier could not be overcome quickly enough so that our sisters could provide the kind of assistance the pastor desired. yet italian immigrants kept pouring into that part of the city. if their gifts were not suited to the work they had been brought here to do, there was work suited to their gifts. their love and generosity, coupled with initiative and enterprise, led them to establish nurseries and
settlement houses in which the newly arrived italians could continue to use their language and customs while adapting to their new cultural surroundings. though finances were a burden, there were those who provided generous support and gradually the new venture took root in a new country.
Growth & Development of Apostolates
Mainstreaming of Immigrants & Expansion of Parish Schools 1930’s – 1960’s
As the immigrants became part of the fabric of America so did our Sisters. We expanded our involvement into the schools, working with young boys as well as girls from pre-school to college and continued to engage in social work and parish ministries. We expanded beyond the boundaries of New York to neighboring states and even across the continent.
Through the years there were new challenges and adaptations. As the waves of new immigrants diminished and the children of Europeans were mainstreamed into the culture of
settlement houses in which the newly arrived italians could continue to use their language and customs while adapting to their new cultural surroundings. though finances were a burden, there were those who provided generous support and gradually the new venture took root in a new country.
We opened new houses and works in New Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, California. Where once we had settlement house to aid new immigrants we staffed parochial schools, often in areas where Italian immigrants had settled. Education came to dominate our work and we opened a teacher training institute to educate our own Sisters and those of other communities. In time, this came to be a junior college for young men and women. But the 1960’s saw many changes both in society and in the Church. We have had to close some of our own works, including our college, and to withdraw from parish commitments. Once again we had to face the demands of adaptation.
