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Who are the Piarist Fathers?
We are the oldest Catholic, educational, religious order in the world, one that was founded by Saint Joseph Calasanz (1557-1648) in the 17th century. Besides the three evanglical vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, we Piarists profess a very special fourth religious vow to educate youth, especially the poor, and we are committed to the educational apostolate.
In 1948, Pope Pius XII proclaimed Saint Joseph Calasanz as the “Universal Patron of All Catholic Schools in the World,” because in 1597, with the permission of Pope Clement VIII, St. Joseph Calasanz opened the very first “free public school in Europe.” He proclaimed that every child has a right to an education, and he fought for this. As a result, he, himself, was often a victim of persecution. But at the same time, he achieved excellent results. He is also credited with such educational innovations as arranging students in rows and organizing a fixed schedule of classes, each lasting for a standard period of time.
On March 25, 1617, the Pauline Congregation of Poor Clerics Regular of the Mother of God of the Pious Schools was founded (the name ‘Pauline’ comes from Pope Paul V who approved it, and it was made a Religious Order under solemn canonical vows by Pope Gregory XV in 1621, under its current name). The letters "Sch.P." which stand for Scholarum Piarum (of the Pious Schools) are used to identify the members of our Order. The motto of the Piarist Fathers is "For the Glory of God and the Service of our Neighbor."
The Order soon spread throughout Italy, Spain, and Central Europe. The Piarist Fathers first arrived in Cuba and Puerto Rico in the middle of the nineteenth century, and they established the first Piarist canonical foundation in Cuba in 1857. Some foundations in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Central America soon followed. In 1927, the Provincial of Catalonia met with Archbishop Patrick Cardinal Hayes in New York City to discuss the possibility of opening a "Formation House for Higher Studies." But it was not until 1948 that the first Piarist priest, Father Antonio Rivares, Sch.P. from the Province of Aragon arrived in New York City, and he soon obtained permission from Archbishop Francis Cardinal Spellman for the Order to send more Piarists. Those Piarists arrived in New York City in 1950 from Spain. In 1978, the Piarist Fathers were entrusted with Annunciation Parish in upper Manhattan. Also in 1948, a group of Polish and Hungarian Piarists arrived in the Diocese of Buffalo. Afterwards, the Piarist Fathers established communities in Philadelphia, Washington, DC, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, and eastern Kentucky. Recently, the Order began establishing missions in Japan, the Philippines, India, indonesia, Vietnam, and countries in central and west Africa, and we are continuing to establish communities in new countries. There are now 1,300 Piarists serving in 36 countries on five continents (Europe, Asia, Africa, and North and South America.)
For more than four centuries, the Piarist Fathers have played an important role in the field of education, and we have had considerable success in the education of physically and mentally disabled students. Many of our alumni have become very accomplished in their fields, and some of our more famous alumni include St. John Neumann - fourth Bishop of Philadelphia, Pope Pius IX, Rev. Gregor Mendel, O.S.A. - the Father of Genetics, Goya, Shubert, and Victor Hugo. But, we are not alone in our endeavours because we share our mission with more than 100.000 lay people, and several other religious communities were founded in the spirit and charism of our Holy Founder, including the Congregation of the Daughters of Mary, Sisters of the Pious Schools, which were founded in 1829 by St. Paula Montal (1799-1889.)
In Spanish, we are called the Escolapios, and in Italian we are the Scolopi. We are a Marian Order, dedicated to Mary under the title of Our Lady of the Pious Shools, and our special Piarist Prayer is the "Crown of the Twelve Stars," which our Holy Founder insisted be recited regularly in every Piarist School.
Crown of the Twelve Stars
By Saint Joseph Calasanz
(A Prayer in honor of Our Lady of the Pious Schools)Let us praise and thank the Most Holy Trinity, for having shown to us the Virgin Mary clothed with the sun, with the moon beneath her feet, and with a mysterious crown of twelve starts under her head.
R: For ever and ever. Amen.
(In honor of God the Father)
Let us praise and bless the divine Father for having chosen her as his daughter. R: Amen. “Our Father...”
Praised be the divine Father for having predestined her to be the mother of the divine Son.
R: Amen. “Hail Mary...”
Praised be the divine Father for having preserved her from all sin in her conception.
R: Amen. “Hail Mary...”
Praised be the divine Father for having adorned her with the highest gifts in her nativity.
R: Amen. “Hail Mary...”
Praised be the divine Father for having given her Saint Joseph as a most pure spouse and companion.
R: Amen. “Hail Mary... Glory be...”
(In honor of God the Son)
Let us praise and bless the divine Son for having chosen her as his mother. R: Amen. “Our Father...”
Praised be the divine Son for having become incarnate in her womb, and for having remained there nine months.
R: Amen. “Hail Mary...”
Praised be the divine Son for having been born and for having given her milk whereby he would be nourished.
R: Amen. “Hail Mary...”
Praised be the divine Son for having been pleased in his childhood to be educated by her.
R: Amen. “Hail Mary... Glory be...”
Praised be the divine Son for having revealed to her the mysteries of the redemption of the world.
(In honor of God the Holy Spirit)
Let us praise and bless the Holy Spirit for having chosen her as his spouse. R: Amen. “Our Father...”
Praised be the Holy Spirit for having revealed, first to Mary, his name of Holy Spirit.
R: Amen. “Hail Mary...”
Praised be the Holy Spirit through whose action she was at once Virgin and Mother.
R: Amen. “Hail Mary...”
Praised be the Holy Spirit through whose power she became the living temple of the Most Holy Trinity.
R: Amen. “Hail Mary...”
Praised be the Holy Spirit by whom she was exalted in heaven above all creatures. R: Amen. “Hail Mary... Glory be...”For the holy Church of God, for the unity of Christians and for the peace and salvation of the whole world, let us pray together:
Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, hail, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To you do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To you do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious Advocate, your eyes of mercy toward us, and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus, O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! Amen.
Note: “I wish this devotion to be recited, every day, by our pupils so that by this pious exercise they may obtain Our Lady’s protection in life and in death.”
-Saint Joseph Calasanz
STEPS TO THE PRIESTHOOD - The Ministries of Lector and Acolyte
On Saturday, October 22, Very Rev. Fernando Negro, Sch.P., the Provincial Superior of the Piarist Fathers Province of the United States and Puerto Rico traveled to St. Helena Church in the Bronx, New York in order to celebrate Mass and confer the Ministry of Lector on Br. Ricardo Rivera, Sch.P. (center right) and the Ministry of Acolyte on Br. Vinod Angadtathu George, Sch.P. (center left) during the 5:30PM Vigil Mass. The moment was special for all of us, since it was the very first time these ministries have ever been conferred here at St. Helena. Usually, they are done at St. Joseph’s Seminary in Dunwoodie. Five priests concelebrated the Mass, including two professors from St. Joseph’s, which is where both seminarians are students, currently in their second and third year of studies respectively.
Those who receive the ministry of Lector are called to proclaim the Word at Mass outside of the Holy Gospel, as well as to instruct the faithful and to proclaim that Word with their lives. Acolytes are called to service at the altar with the Deacon and Priest, dedicating themselves to the service of the sacrament. While lay people can be called to either of these ministries, they are also integral in the path to the priesthood – through these ministries seminarians are further formed to be ministers of the Lord and serve His people. A reception was held in the cafeteria following the Mass, which was attended by nearly 200 people.
The Diaconate Ordination of Rev. Br. Vinod Angadathu George of St. Rita of Cascia, Sch.P. at St. Helena's - June 17, 2017.
