Paulist Fathers
A Brief History of the Paulist Fathers
From our very beginnings, the Paulist Fathers have been “different.” The Paulist Fathers were founded in 1858 by Fr. Isaac Hecker and four other 
priests, each a convert to Catholicism. Fr. Hecker was an intellectual and idealist – a friend of Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson. He spent many years searching for a spiritual home before discovering it in the Catholic Church. Hecker firmly believe that America’s democratic ideals and respect for individual rights and freedom created the perfect atmosphere in which the Church could grow and thrive.
Pope Pius IX approved Hecker’s plan to establish a congregation of priest, and in the spring of 1858, Archbishop Hughes accepted Hecker and confreres into the New York archdiocese, given them a parish on 59th Street for their headquarters (close to where our mother church is located today).
The Paulists were the first “native” Catholic community of priests founded in North America. Fr. Hecker’s vision was to establish the Catholic Church as a major influence in the lives and values of people throughout the continent. With boundless energy, Hecker traveled thousands of miles, crisscrossing the country to spread the Gospel to largely non-Catholic audiences. He died of leukemia in 1888, but the seeds he planted – a uniquely American, vibrant and optimistic missionary community of priests, has grown into the Paulist Community that you are part of today.
Reflection: How does your own corner of American culture influence your Catholic faith and how does your Catholic faith influence your culture?
Spreading the Gospel
When most people think about evangelization, they have images of preachers roaming the countryside spreading the Good News to all who will listen, but for the Paulists, evangelization means far more than just
preaching. As Paulist Father Frank DeSiano, director of Paulist Evangelization Ministries, notes, spreading the Word begins at home:
"The first is ongoing renewal of one's own faith, because no one is totally evangelized. We all need to hear the Good News again and again. The second is to foster a spirit of welcoming, sharing, and invitation, particularly to those who have no faith and to those who have ceased being involved in the practice of their faith. The third is to help our faith have its proper impact on the world, the good of people, the strength of families, the demands of justice, and the pursuit of peace."
And that's where the laity plays such a critical role. We believe that all the baptized are called to accept the challenge of discipleship, and that means we take every opportunity to encourage you to spread the Gospel in your own voice ... to reach out and share your faith in your own way, so that together we may bring the healing power of the Word to the world.
Reflection: What might be one way this week you give God’s Word a voice in the world?
Seeking Peace
Within our Catholic family, we have so many members who no longer actively and communally practice their faith. Our church is diminished by their absence. Many are the prophets we need to keep us on track. Others are the presence and gifts of God's love we need to grow and thrive as a community centered on Christ.
Now, there are many reasons for this separation. Some have had a bad experience and chosen to separate themselves from the Catholic community. Others have drifted away with time and the busyness of life. Others have drifted away because they no longer see the relevancy and value of the Catholic faith in life. The second largest denomination in the US are those Catholics who no longer actively practice their faith with a Catholic parish.
So part of the evangelizing mission of the Paulists has been to reach out to those Catholics and help them and us recognize how we need each other. Apart we are diminished and together, we can be a powerful force and witness of Christ's love in the world. Besides local efforts at each of our parishes and campus ministries, we have a national office promoting reconciliation, Paulist Reconciliation Ministries.
Reflection: What might be one way you can be an instrument of peace? What one thing can you do this week to promote greater peace and harmony in your area?
Creating Unity and Understanding
Peace and justice cannot exist in our society unless we find new ways to communicate with and understand our sisters and brothers of other faiths.
For many years, the Paulists have actively reached out to people of other faith traditions. Our shared goals are to promote mutual respect, understanding, and unity.
Through our Office of Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations in New York City, our involvement in the Tantur Ecumenical Institute in Jerusalem, and scores of similar programs in parishes and campus ministries across North America, we've been able to put aside distrust and misunderstanding and replace them with hope for a more peaceful future.
Reflection: Please, it's never been more important for you to add your voice to this dialogue than now. Consider sharing your faith with members of different traditions in your community. Try to develop a better understanding and respect for their beliefs. You will find we have more in common with our sisters and brothers in faith than you imagined. For we all are on a spiritual journey to God and to wholeness and unity.
The Future of Our Faith
The Paulist Fathers have always made educating and preparing men for the priesthood a top priority, and this year we have three men preparing for ordination in May.
But you need to be involved too. Many of our seminarians have said that what prompted them to first consider a vocation was someone they knew - a friend, a family member, a fellow parishioner - asking them the question: "Have you ever considered the priesthood?" We encourage you to ask the question of someone you think might make a dedicated and dynamic priest, and if you find that special person, ask him one more thing - ask him to speak with one of our Paulists to learn more. Or, you can direct him to our website, www.Paulist.org/vocation, where he can learn about our training program, and read stories from Paulists about discovering their calling.
Another very important way you can help our future priests is through your financial support. As many of you already know how expensive it is to attend college. To train one man, for one year for priesthood, is over $50,000. Your financial support is essential in helping us provide the education required to meet the challenges our future Paulist priests will face.
Funding from our Annual Paulist Appeal provides for our retired priests like Fr. Don Campbell, Fr. Charlie Martin, Fr. Bill Brimley, Fr. Dennis Hickey, Fr. Bill Cantwell, and Fr. Pete Shea. The Appeal also allows us to support important ministries our national offices like Young Adult and Ecumenism, and to provide seed money for new opportunities to give God’s Word a Voice in North America. Past successes include Paulist Press, Paulist Productions, PNCEA, Landings, Busted Halo, Paulist Radio Ministries, and new mission programs like Fr. Jim DiLuzio's Luke Live.
Thank you for your generosity in support the Paulist Missionary efforts in North America.
For more information on the Paulist Fathers, please check out our web stie, www.paulist.org