Society of Christ Fathers


The Society of Christ Fathers for Poles Living Abroad - Roman Catholic Society of Apostolic Life founded by the then Primate of Poland, Cardinal August Hlond, in cooperation with Fr. Ignacy Posadzy, September 8, 1932.

History

After Poland regained independence in 1918, church and civil authorities made efforts to provide Poles living in other countries with every manner of assistance, especially spiritual care. Church leaders in Poland could not ignore the requests for Polish priests raised by Poles in all corners of the world. As guardian of the Polish emigrants abroad, Primate Cardinal A. Hlond consulted with the Holy See how to meet this demand. After receiving a directive from Pope Pius XI, he established the religious institute of the Society of Christ to Polish Migrants in 1932. Hlond charged Fr. Ignacy Posadzy, a priest of the Archdiocese of Gniezno-Poznan, with the execution of this task and he is considered the co-founder of the Society of Christ. Due to changes brought about after the Polish October, 1956 was a watershed moment in the realizing the mission of the Society. The first priests began to travel to the territories of their mission work. They are present in a number of countries including New Zealand, Brazil, Australia, Germany, France, Canada, the United States.
On 22 April 1950, the Holy See issued Decretum Laudis recognizing the presence of The Society of Christ Fathers in the Universal Church.

The problem of pedophilia

October 2, 2018 The Court of Appeal in Poznań validly upheld the decision of the court of first instance, in which he adjudged in favor of a woman imprisoned and raped during her childhood by a priest Roman P., belonging to the Society of Christ Fathers. The survivor has been awarded PLN 1 million compensation and a life annuity of PLN 800 per month. Father Roman P. has abducted the then 13-year-old girl away from her parents, and then for a dozen or so months he imprisoned and raped her. The investigators had also discovered pedophile content as well as e-mail correspondence with other children. The man was arrested in 2008.

Congregation structure

The Order, and the realization of its mission, is directed by the Superior General and General Council. It is divided into provinces, which are the overseen by the Provincials and Provincial Councils.

Provinces