The Congregation of the Holy Spirit (officially The Congregation of the Holy Spirit under the protection of the Immaculate Heart of the Virgin Mary) is a Roman Catholic religious congregation of priests, brothers, and lay associates. Widely known as the Spiritans or Holy Ghost Fathers, members of this order use the post-nominal initials CSSp.
History and Founders
The order’s history is unique because it developed in two distinct stages across France, eventually merging into a single international mission:
- The First Foundation (1703): Founded on Pentecost Sunday in Paris by Claude Poullart des Places, a young French nobleman who abandoned a law career to study for the priesthood. He formed a community dedicated to the Holy Spirit to support poor seminarians and evangelize those on the margins.
- The Second Foundation & Merger (1848): The upheaval of the French Revolution nearly destroyed the original order. In 1848, the Holy See merged them with the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, which had been established by Francis Libermann (a converted Jew and the son of a rabbi). Libermann is celebrated as the “Second Founder,” breathing new life into the Spiritans and shifting focus heavily toward marginalized populations, including freed slaves in French colonies.
Mission and Charism
The core charism of the Spiritans is the evangelization of the poor and oppressed. Guided by their motto, “One heart and one soul” (Acts 4:32), they intentionally seek out hard-to-reach missions where the Church struggles to find workers. Their primary fields of work include:
- International missionary aid and refugee relief
- Educational institutions
- Parish and retreat ministries
- Promoting social justice, health care, and sustainable local development
Global Presence Today
Headquartered at the Casa Generalizia in Rome, Italy, the congregation consists of nearly 3,000 members serving in over 60 countries across six continents. While their historical roots are European, the demographics of the Spiritans have shifted substantially over the last century. Today, the fastest-growing sectors and the highest concentration of new vocations come from Africa and Asia.
In North America, provinces like the Spiritans TransCanada and the U.S. Province reflect this growing intercultural diversity, welcoming international members to minister in local parishes and outreach sectors.