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Opus Spiritus Sancti... PRIESTS, SISTERS, LAY PEOPLE WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE ...
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Welcome to the Community of Apostolic Christians and the Secular Institute of Diocesan Priests in the Opus Spiritus Sancti
The Opus Spiritus Sancti is a federation of five communities within the Catholic Church: Community of Apostolic Christians Secular Institute of Diocesan Priests Secular Institute of Women Apostolic Life Community of Sisters Apostolic Life Community of Priests This community of priests, sisters and lay people was founded in Mammolshain, Germany in 1950. All communities share a common spirituality while each has its own international leadership and organizational structure. It is our hope to live as the Church in miniature. We participate in the missionary work of the world church, and we want to live in a spirit of community. We wish to be a catalyst for the renewal of God‘s people. Thus, we pray and work for the coming of a New Pentecost on earth so that God may be all in all. The Founder of the Opus Spiritus Sancti communities, Fr. Bernhard Bendel, developed one structure for all the communities, united under one International Rector. But in 2000 this structure was no longer accepted by three member communities as they felt that it was contrary to the autonomy and independence of the individual communities. After due consultation with Rome, the Bishop of Limburg, suggested that the communities adopt the structure of a Federation. Unfortunately, a Federation of Communities could accommodate only four out of the five communities. As a Federation, the OSS Communities come under the Sacred Congregation for Religious and Secular Institutes in Rome. Lay communities are not included under that Congregation and consequently the Community of Apostolic Christians (CAC) was not able to be a member of the Federation. During the SIP International Meeting in 2018, the delegates reflected on this and felt that it is not proper to exclude the lay people in the CAC because it would violate the original vision of the Founder with 5 communities reflecting a Church in miniature. Hence, the SIP discerned and decided to opt out of the Federation Structure and together with CAC wants to form an Association under another Sacred Congregation in Rome. Since the Church is defined as the People of God, it is clear that without the laity the OSS Federation would be incomplete. Additionally, the members of the SIP are diocesan priests, many of whom are working in parish ministry for the formation of the laity. The SIP wants to retain the vision of our Founder with the laity included as members with equal rights and responsibilities. The other three communities are welcome to join us. Therefore, the following website presents only the two communities: Community of Apostolic Christians Secular Institute of Diocesan Priests |
CAC members, Tamil Nadu, India
SIP Members Lilongwe, Malawi
CAC members, Tanzania, Africa
SIP members, Salem, India
CAC members, Tanzania, Africa
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