rosminians

Gentili House - Served by the Rosminians

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 11:09:43 GMT

About Gentili House

Rosminians community of elderly retired Romanian Priests

(officially known as the Institute of Charity). The order was founded by an Italian priest, Antonio Rosmini in 1828.

In community:

Rector: Fr. Potentinus Mutekanga IC

Fr. John Buckner IC

Fr. Charles Somany IC

Fr. Bob Bellwood IC

Fr. David Tobin IC

Fr. Eric Willet IC

Br. Joseph Gardener IC

Gentili House

Oak Street, Rugby, Warwickshire, CV22 5EL

St Marie's, Rugby - Served by the Rosminians

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 11:04:07 GMT

About St. Marie's, Rugby

Our parish is served by the Rosminians (officially known as the Institute of Charity). The order was founded by an Italian priest, Antonio Rosmini in 1828.

Parish Priest: Fr. Aji Alphonse IC,

Assistant Priest: Fr. Potentinus Mutekanga IC

St Marie's Catholic Church

Dunchurch Rd, Rugby, Warwickshire, CV22 5EL

Presbytery: Oak Street, Rugby, CV22 5EL

https://www.stmaries.co.uk

Br Brian Butler IC RIP

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 20:56:31 GMT

With deep sorrow, we hear of the news of the passing of Br Brian, who peacefully went to be with the Lord on last Sunday 28th September 2025. Please remember his family in our prayers. The Reception of Br. Brian into the Church will be on Sunday 12th October at 6:00pm in St. Joseph's Cardiff, followed by Mass. His Requiem Mass will be on Monday 13th October at 9:30am at St. Joseph's, followed by burial at Western Cemetery at 11:30.

St Etheldreda's London Served by the Rosminians

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 15:57:38 GMT

About St. Etheldreda's, London

St Etheldreda’s Church was the town chapel of the Bishops of Ely from about 1250 to 1570. It is the oldest Catholic church in England and one of only two remaining buildings in London from the reign of Edward I. It was once one of the most influential places in London with a palace of vast grounds. It was like an independent state, the Bishop of Ely’s place in London or Ely Place as it is now called, and its chapel took its name from one of England’s most popular saints of the day, Etheldreda.

In 1829, the Catholic Emancipation Act was passed and for the first time for 300 years it was no longer illegal for Catholics to have churches and say mass. In June of 1835, three Italian priests arrived at Tilbury. They were members of the Institute of Charity, founded by Antonio Rosmini, and later to become known as Rosminians. They introduced into England a new form of clerical dress, the Roman collar or dog collar.

The Rosminians had worked very successfully in the Nottingham and Leicester areas and later in North London. The Rector of the North London Mission was Father William Lockhart, an Oxford convert and friend of the man who was to become the great English Cardinal, John Henry Newman; and it was Lockhart’s conversion that finally convinced Newman that he too should become a Catholic.

The then Cardinal, Henry Manning, wished the Rosminians to serve in the slum areas of Holborn. Father Lockhart was chosen for this task. And in December 1873, he learned that the ancient Chapel of St Etheldreda’s was about to be sold by auction.

Father Lockhart faced competition from the Welsh Episcopalians, who had the backing of a Welsh steel magnate. But at the auction, the Welshmen made a mistake. They thought Father Lockhart’s agent was theirs, so they stopped bidding. And with the next bid of £5,400 St Etheldreda’s was knocked down to the Rosminians.

Parish Priest : Fr. Anthony Furlong IC

Rector: Fr. Tom Thomas IC (Provincial)

St Etheldreda's Catholic Church

14 Ely Place, London, EC1N 6RY

http://www.stetheldreda.com/

St Peter's Cardiff - Served by the Rosminians

Sun, 13 Jul 2025 10:36:06 GMT

About St. Peter's Cardiff

Three members of the Institute of Charity arrived in England. In 1847 the order was asked to take charge of Newport, and in 1854 it also took charge of Cardiff.

Background

St Peter's Parish, Roath, Cardiff is one of the oldest Catholic parishes. The Rosminian Fathers responded to Bishop Browns plea to send some priests from Newport (begun in 1847) to Cardiff in 1854.

All of Cardiff and surrounds were entrusted to the Rosminians. They were the priests until 1885 or so. In 1881 there were 10,000 Catholics in Cardiff, one third of the population. Fr Fortunatus Signini was keen to build St Peters 1854 to 1862. Fr Stephen Bruno spent all his priestly ministry in Cardiff. Fr Gastaldi and Fr Costa joined them. Fr Signini put all his efforts into building Catholic Schools.

From street collections among Catholics he was able to begin schools and then develop other parishes such as St Patricks and St Marys. Three Rosminian Sisters arrive in 1856 and looked after their first school in David Street.

The beginning of a long successful mission to many schools in Cardiff.

The Parish of St Peter's today is a thriving community, truly international in membership. Being very central to the city it ministers to an established older community as well as a younger student group and young families, many of whom have come from overseas. It has devotional groups, charitable outreach through the St Vincent de Paul and Justice group, musicians, singers, altar servers, the St Peter's Rugby Club, scouts and brownies. The Parish Council has oversight of various activities. For the year 2000 an enhanced peal of bells was installed and a full redecoration of the interior of the church. More recently, 2006, a new Swiss Spath organ was donated. In 2007 many parishioners formed a group to travel to Novara, Italy for the Beatification of Father Antonio Rosmini. 2010 saw the 150th Anniversary of the first Mass at St Peters. In 2020 the Citizen's group was influential in assisting a Syrian refugee family to settle in the city. The Rosminian community comprises four members.

Parish Priest: Fr. Chris Fuse IC

Assistant Priest: Fr Shinto Kumminiyil IC

Assistant Priest: Fr Benny Dennis IC (Lecturer - St David's College, Cardiff)

Permanent Deacon: Rev. Mike Randell

St Peters Catholic Church

St. Peter's Presbytery, St Peter's Street, Roath, Cardiff, CF24 3BA

https://stpeters-roath.co.uk/

More about the Rosminians in South Wales - View Here

Fr Tom Thomas IC

Sun, 05 Jan 2025 14:24:32 GMT

Congratulations to Fr Tom Thomas IC who will be the new Provost Provincial of the Rosminians of the United Kingdom

 and New Zealand Province of St Thomas of Canterbury and St John Henry Newman.

We wish Fr Tom well as he begins his new ministry on 6th January 2025 and assure him of our prayers.

Happy Easter

Tue, 02 Apr 2024 15:10:42 GMT

Follow our video series with talks on St. Joseph by Fr. John Bland and Fr. Chris Fuse

The Rosminian Fathers would like to wish you a very Happy Easter!

Solemnity of St Joseph 19 March 2024

Tue, 19 Mar 2024 17:14:21 GMT

After the Blessed Virgin Mary, St Joseph is the greatest of the saints. He is the one “into whose custody God entrusted his most precious treasures,” Jesus and Mary, out of all of the men who will ever live.

The Church honors St Joseph on March 19th for his faithfulness to God and to his vocation as Custodian of the Redeemer. From St Joseph, we can learn about the importance of faith when we see how deeply he believed the message of the angel and took Mary home as his wife. We also understand what courage is when we hear about the flight into Egypt, and how St Joseph was obedient to God, even in the midst of great trials and danger. St Joseph is the patron saint of the Universal Church, unborn babies, families, fathers, immigrants, social justice, carpenters, those seeking employment, realtors, and a happy death.

“Go to Joseph with extreme confidence, because I do not remember having asked anything from St. Joseph, without having obtained it readily.” ~ St. Padre Pio

St Joseph, pray for us.

( Source: Catholic News Agency )

THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT Laetare Sunday

Sun, 10 Mar 2024 17:09:01 GMT

Laetare, taken from the first words of the Entrance Antiphon, “Laetare Jerusalem” which means “Rejoice, Jerusalem”.

On this Sunday the Church expresses hope and joy in the midst of our Lenten fasts and penances.

Laetare also reminds us of the event we look forward to at the end of the penitential season

and the joy in anticipation of the resurrection.

Feast of the Cell

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 17:18:24 GMT

20th February

Blessed Antonio Rosmini had wanted to write the Constitutions (the aims or purpose and way of life for his Institute of Brothers and Priests) in a secluded place, but what awaited him on the Sacred Mountain of Calvario was something

more like a haunted castle.

So what did Antonio Rosmini do? From this wilderness and disorder he created a humble home and wrote the

Constitutions or foundations of his Order. In silence and prayer, and with great patience and trust, he set about his work.

On the 20 February 1828, he spent the next two months writing the Constitutions in his small and simple room

called 'La Cella' or the Cell; hence the name of this feast and day of celebration.

Fr. Michael Hill I.C.

Sat, 08 Jul 2023 17:26:45 GMT

Father Michael Hill has gone to the Lord. He passed away on Thursday 6th July in Christchurch, New Zealand.

He worked most of his life in New Zealand. He was the editor of the international Catholic magazine Tui Motu InterIslands and he was

the author of the book, Antonio Rosmini — Persecuted Prophet.

We pray for his eternal rest.

Fr. Jim Flynn RIP

Mon, 22 Nov 2021 14:49:07 GMT

With sadness we hear that Fr Jim has gone to celebrate Christ the King in the kingdom of the servants of God. The last 24 hours he was extremely weak and died at 5.00 am Saturday morning 20th November. The funeral will be in Dublin on Tuesday 23rd. . We will pray for him at holy Mass and in our divine Office. He will be praying for us as he has been, as don Marco Tanghetti, our new Father General told us when he went to visit him. May he Rest in Peace.

St. Joseph's Reflections

Sat, 06 Mar 2021 20:35:22 GMT

Follow our video series with talks on St. Joseph by Fr. John Bland and Fr. Chris Fuse

St Joseph the Chaste - Fr. John Bland

St. Joseph the Protector - Fr. Chris Fuse

Rosminian Family Weekend

Sun, 21 Feb 2021 12:39:39 GMT

In 1828 Blessed Antonio Rosmini was given the monastery ruins on Sacro Mount Calvary above Domodossola, North Italy. With a few friends he began his Lent by making the place habitable and starting their life of prayer, study and a helping ministry to the local villages. TODAY the monastery is a lovely Retreat Centre with extensive walks and gardens. It is the novitiate for the Italian province and has an international group living there. There is preserved the original monastic ‘cell’ of Blessed Antonio and some of his writings are contained in a nearby library. Along the corridor is the Mission Centre focussing on the missions in Tanzania and Kenya which this year celebrate 75 years of activity with the Sisters and Fathers.

Fr. Jim McKnight - Called to be with the Lord

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 14:31:54 GMT

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Our dear Fr. Jim McKnight (St. Peter's Cardiff) died on Thursday. When he did not come to prayers we found that he was saying them in heaven. Jim had been getting more frail and losing balance. He was due for a possible stent, and it was his heart that eventually gave up.

He will be much missed but has now been called to be with the Lord.

Arrangements later. Please remember him at Mass.

St Joseph protector of the Holy Church

Thu, 14 Jan 2021 12:21:27 GMT

Year of St Joseph with Fr. John Bland

Fr. John Bland shares his reflections and St. Joseph's role and contribution to protecting the Holy Family in Jesus' times. Watch the beautiful video enclosed'

Christmas Message from Fr. Chris

Thu, 24 Dec 2020 13:22:16 GMT

A Christmas message from Fr. Chris

Celebrations - Presbyter Vows

Tue, 08 Dec 2020 18:47:33 GMT

Today on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady, at the Rosmini Centre Leicester. Fathers Tony Furlong, Paul Gillham and Philip Sainter took Presbyter vows in the Institute of Charity. This linked them and the Order closer to service of the Holy Father Pope Francis. Congratulations to them all. Only a small group was able to be present at the ceremony in these circumstances.

New Rosminian Media centre - India

Fri, 09 Oct 2020 21:52:33 GMT

The new Rosminian Media Centre in Trivandrum India

The new Rosminian Media Centre in Trivandrum India has made a pictorial presentation of Pope Francis newest encyclical Fratelli Tutti.

Here is the link to their video

Wonderful News -Br. William Rees First Vows

Tue, 08 Sep 2020 22:00:50 GMT

Congratulations to Br. William Rees

Our Lady’s birthday, Tuesday 8th was very special for the Rosminians in the UK.
Our only novice, Brother William Rees known to many as he spent time at St Peters both before and during his novitiate, took his first vows. He is now a student brother with us.
Only a limited group of 17 were present, given the current restrictions, but we had a cheerful Mass in a simple style. Fr Chris Fuse, the Provincial received his vows. It was a moment that the UK Province has not experienced for many years. This week he will begin a course at one of the church universities in Rome and live at our international community at Porta Latina. Already qualified in law and history we look forward to his experiences among our student group in Rome. Fr Anthony Meredith has been the novice director these two years, with the active support of the Rosminian community in Leicester. With you, we all pray to the Holy Spirit to send us more students for the religious life. We give thanks to God for these events and continue to pray every day for vocations.

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Derryswood Community House - Served by the Rosminians

Wed, 05 Aug 2020 20:11:15 GMT

About St Mary's Derryswood

St Mary's Community House, Derryswood, is home to our senior Rosminians and is located in Wonersh, Guildford.

Resident Priests

Please write to Fr. David Myers.

St Mary's

Derryswood, Wonersh, Guildford.

Covid-19 Update

Mon, 03 Aug 2020 14:57:28 GMT

Update Church re-opening - Wales

Big news in Wales is that the diocese has given permission to re-open churches, for private prayer. as long as we fill in and present many documents of Risk Assessment. We mean, many pages, risk for cleaners, for clergy, for volunteer stewards, for the state of the church, and of course for the Parishioners with hand cleansing, one way in and around church, spaced out seating, and disinfecting all areas of touch. In England the pace was faster, and churches have been open for a while, only for private prayer. This is the weekend for pubs to open in England - and in the same time Leicester has been put “on hold” with a new lockdown because of a spike in new cases. We are in very uncertain times with this disease. In prayer for all our brethren. Chris

The Rosminian Centre Leicestershire

Sat, 01 Aug 2020 17:00:57 GMT

About The Rosminian Centre

The Rosmini Centre House of Prayer is situated in Leicestershire, attached to the great Rosminian College known as Ratcliffe College. The essential purpose of the Centre is to be a place of prayer and a sign of love of God and neighbour, through various activities of spiritual, intellectual, and temporal charity.

We live a life of prayer and encourage others to enter into the beauty of prayer. We search without ceasing for all truth, knowing that through it we shall be led to the Truth, the second Person of the Blessed Trinity, and to the Father and the Holy Spirit

Community Priests and Brothers

Fr. Anthony Meredith, Fr, Phillip Sainter, Fr Ted Mullen, Fr David Tobin,

Fr. Anthony Furlong, Brothers Nigel Cave and William Rees.

The Rosminian Center

433 Fosse Way, Ratcliffe-on-the-Wreake, Leicester Leicestershire, LE7 4SJ

https://www.rosminicentre.co.uk/

St Teresa Birstill - Served by the Rosminians

Sat, 01 Aug 2020 14:14:07 GMT

About St. Theresa's Birstall

In 1835 the first missionaries came to England, and the first priest came to St. Theresa’s parish in 1938. We are part of a Rosminian cluster of parishes and schools here in the English midlands, and we regularly come together to share the ideals of the Institute of Charity.

Lay people are welcome to become Ascribed members of the Institute, linking their lives and work and prayer with the Sisters and Fathers and Brothers.

Parish Priest: Fr. Jenson Paul IC

St Theresa's Catholic Church

The Presbytery, 53 Front Street, Birstall, Leicester LE4 4DQ

https://st-theresa-sacredheart.co.uk/

St Patrick's Newport served by the Rosminians

Fri, 31 Jul 2020 23:27:50 GMT

About St. Patrick's Newport

OIn 1847 the order was asked to take charge of Newport, and in 1854 it also took charge of Cardiff.

Parish Priest: Fr. Michael McCarthy I.C

St Patrick's Catholic Church Newport

151, Cromwell Road, Newport, NP19 0HS, South Wales.

http://www.stpatricksnewport.org.uk/

St Mary's Loughborough - Served by the Rosminians

Fri, 31 Jul 2020 21:59:20 GMT

About St. Mary's Loughborough

Although the town of Loughborough has had a resident Catholic Priest from as early as 1824, it was not until 1841, that the then Bishop Walsh handed over the parish mission to the care of the Rosminians under the pastoral care of Fr. J Pagani. The mission benefited enormously from the care provided by the community, and for many years later St Marys was the most important centre of the institute of Charity in the country.

The High Altar, and the Altar of Our Lady Queen of Peace are the work of Finelli Figli of Pietrasanta. The marble bronze work is of a richness very unusual in a provincial church in this country. St Mary's is now a grade 2 listed building.

Parish Priest: Fr. Paul Gillham IC

Assistant Priest: Fr. David Jones

St Marys Catholic Church

97 Ashby Rd, Loughborough , LE11 3AB

http://www.stmarysloughborough.org.uk/

St Joseph's Cardiff - Served by the Rosminians

Fri, 31 Jul 2020 19:42:08 GMT

About St. Joseph's Cardiff

Our parish is served by the Rosminians (officially known as the Institute of Charity). The order was founded by an Italian priest, Antonio Rosmini in 1828. Only seven years later he sent one of his earliest followers with two companions to England at the request of Bishop Baines, Vicar of the Western District. In 1847 the order was asked to take charge of Newport, and in 1854 it also took charge of Cardiff. At the present time the Institute of Charity cares for two parishes in Cardiff - Saint Peter’s and Saint Joseph’s.(St Alban's was part of the Rosiminians until 2021)

St Joseph’s was founded on the 1st of June 1913.

Parish Priest: Fr.Jose Kuttikkatt IC,

In Community: Fr. Philip Scanlon IC

Permanent Deacon: Rev. Mark Howe

St Joseph's Catholic Church

New Zealand Road, Gabalfa, Cardiff, CF14 3BR

https://www.saintjosephs.org.uk/

Rosminian Institute in South Wales

anthony@everydaychristianmarketing.co.uk (Anthony Evans) — Tue, 28 Jul 2020 18:14:27 GMT

The Rosminian Institutes in South Wales

In the 1840’s, the town of Newport was the largest in Wales, with a Bishop, of the diocese of Newport and Menevia. The industrial revolution and Irish immigration had swollen the numbers of Catholics living in and around the town and in the valleys of South Wales. Bishop Brown belonged to the Benedictine Order and it had been his hope that his own brethren would be able to administer all the new parishes which were springing up in his diocese. Indeed, the Benedictines served these growing congregations devotedly for some years until it became necessary for additional help to be found.

In Newport, a small chapel had been erected in 1812 on the site of the present St. Mary’s Church. With the numbers of parishioners constantly increasing, it was decided that a new and much larger parish church was needed. In 1840 the new St. Mary’s was opened.

It was in early March 1846 that the first Rosminians came to South Wales. Fr. Luigi Gentili and Fr. Furlong came to Newport to give a mission, one of so many that were given at that time by these brethren in cities across the country. They had travelled through the night from Manchester, where Fr. Gentili had caught a cold, not helped by the unhealthy conditions they had found in that city. The mission at St. Mary’s began, but Fr. Gentili had only preached six sermons when he became too ill to continue and retired to bed. He had been unable to project his voice, and unknown to him, the congregation which filled the church had complained to Bishop Brown that he could only be heard at the front of the church, it was impossible to hear him elsewhere. Fr. Furlong continued the mission alone.

The congregation were delighted that they could now hear the sermons and informed the Bishop that they wished for Fr. Furlong to give all the rest of them! The Bishop had the delicate task of explaining the situation to Fr. Gentili, who immediately replied that he accepted this. He said that he thanked the Lord for humbling him, and that he would be glad to support the mission in any other way he could. When it ended, the Bishop wrote to Fr. Pagani, the Rosminian Provincial, explaining what had happened and expressing his great admiration for these priests and how he had been impressed by their witness. From Newport they went on to Yorkshire, where Gentili wrote to Pagani explaining that he had only had a bad cold which affected his throat and was now much better!

The Benedictines in Wales were being stretched to their limits for manpower, and Bishop Brown gladly turned for assistance to the Institute of Charity. He began making frequent requests through Father Pagani to Father Founder, for the Institute to undertake the pastoral care of St. Mary’s.

To the delight of Bishop Brown, the first Rosminian priests to take over the care of the parish, Fr. Hutton and Fr. Fortunatus Signini, who had been secretary to Antonio Rosmini, arrived in the town to undertake this task in June, 1847. Fr. Signini eventually became a victim of typhus which was prevalent in the town at that time, and after his recuperation, moved to Cardiff. Two other Italian priests arrived in 1849 at St. Mary’s, Fr. Rinolfi and Fr. Dominic Cavalli. Fr. Cavalli remained there for forty years and spent himself in the spiritual and temporal care of his parishioners. During those years he also suffered two attacks of typhus. Fr. Rinolfi remained in Newport for a while before his appointment as Provincial, Fr. Pagani having been elected Superior General after the death of Rosmini. In those early years Cardiff was actually part of St. Mary’s parish.

A few years later Cardiff began to expand quickly, due very much, to the Irish influx. The Bishop again requested the Institute to send priests to take over the care of St. David’s Church in the town and in 1854 this became the second parish in Wales to be administered by Rosminians. The conditions in the town were deplorable, and the small presbytery was completely unsuitable for a community. The first Rosminian priest to arrive in Cardiff, after his short time in Newport, was Fr. Signini. He was later joined by Fr. Stefano Bruno, Fr. Lorenzo Gastaldi , Fr. Guiseppe Costa and Brother Mitchell.

St. David’s soon became too small for the expanding congregation and land was sought on which to build another church. It was decided to build on open fields to the east of the town and St. Peter’s in the Fields, as it was then known, was opened in September 1862.The Fathers continued for some time to administer both St. David’s and St. Peter’s. Eventually Fr. Gastaldi would return to Italy, where he became, after the First Vatican Council, the Archbishop of Turin. Fr. Costa was sent to America, where he pioneered the Rosminian Mission in Illinois.

As well as the priestly care of parishes, brothers of the Institute also came to South Wales to develop an extensive system of schooling. In August 1847 they came to Newport, and St. Mary’s School was opened to teach boys. The Sisters of Providence arrived the following year to take on the teaching of girls. This happened also in Cardiff and in September 1856 the Sisters opened their first school.

The plans to bring the Sisters to the town caused an outcry from non-Catholic residents against the arrival of nuns. A petition was taken from door to door and signed ‘A Petition from the Ladies of Cardiff’. It was then sent to Queen Victoria. After quite some time had elapsed, a reply was received acknowledging receipt of the petition, to which was added ‘Her Majesty was not aware that there were any ladies in Cardiff’. St. Peter’s School was opened in August 1872. Schools continued to be established particularly in the 1860s and70s, with the parishes seeing much growth in the 1880s and90s.

EXPANDING MISSIONS

By now other religious institutes were also working in the diocese and making important contributions, especially in the area of education. The population of Cardiff was constantly expanding and the town would soon become larger than Newport. Sent to Newport were the brothers, Frs. John and Michael Bailey in 1862. Fr. Michael Bailey laid the foundation stone of a new church, St. Michael’s, which would be administered by Rosminians, in the docks area of the town. This church was built virtually entirely by the parishioners, many of whom worked as dockers and labourers, and many of these were from Ireland. The soil on which the church is built and all the stone for the building, came from Ireland. The church was opened in 1872 and by 1907 it was an independent parish, Fr. Michael Hill being the first parish priest there. The four Catholic schools in Newport were now well established, as were also the seven schools in and around Cardiff, all built by Rosminians.

Parish life was by now developing with various spiritual societies being popular. Parish processions were always well loved, especially the May and Corpus Christi processions. When Fr. Founder sent the first missioners to England, they re-introduced many of the old Catholic customs which had been lost by the Reformation.

In 1880 the Catholic community in Cardiff was divided into parishes and St. David’s, the church administered by Rosminians since they arrived in 1854, became the responsibility of the diocese. In the 1890s, the diocese of Newport and Menevia ceased to exist and the Archdiocese of Cardiff was erected.

The Rosminian Sisters worked in their Cardiff schools, having left Newport in the late 1800s. They made a tremendous contribution to the school mission and in Newport they started, at St. Mary’s, the Children of Mary, and the Association of Catholic Mothers. In Cardiff in 1877 they were asked to open an upper school near St. Peter’s and in 1904 they opened a pupil teacher centre at Heathfield House to combat the shortage of teachers. This project was discontinued by 1927.

New parishes were formed which had been part of St. Peter’s and this boundary was reduced. In 1891 the parish of St. Alban’s was founded and an ‘old tin church’ used for worship until in 1899 the new church was opened. The parish priest was Fr. Hayde, who had been based at St. Peter’s previously. St. Joseph’s was established about 1913 and the old tin church previously used at St. Alban’s came here too. The new St. Joseph’s was opened in 1936, and was entirely paid for by a Catholic family who were potato merchants. Priests were supplied here also from St. Peter’s. In Newport, the Rosminian parish of St. Patrick’s was established in 1924. Fr. Michael Bailey, who had founded St. Michael’s church and school, noticed the need for a church in the east of the town. The Catholics of this area first worshipped in the room of a building which is now a club, then later land was purchased nearby and again an ‘old tin church’ was erected, with a presbytery and school. The first resident priest was Fr. Woodcock, who came from St. Etheldreda’s, London. The new St. Patrick’s church was opened in 1963.

OUR OWN TIMES

The Institute undertook in 1989, the care of Our Lady of Lourdes parish in Swansea. From 1998 to 2001, the brethren also had the care of the Cathedral along with the parish. Then in 2001, they moved from Swansea to St. Joseph’s parish in Neath and here have three churches in their care and also a convent.

Past times have seen an abundance of religious vocations, but now the labourers are not quite so plentiful. Recently the first Rosminian parish in South Wales, St. Mary’s, Newport, has been returned to the administration of the archdiocese. At St. Michael’s and St. Patrick’s the Institute continues to serve the Lord in the spiritual care of parishioners, in the schools and with occasional responsibility at the local hospitals. In Cardiff also, these ministries continue. By the late 1990s, the Sisters had left the Cardiff schools and now have one house in SouthWales situated almost midway between Newport and Cardiff.

Over the last decades there have been growing numbers of ascribed members in most of our parishes. During the past eleven years they have formed into groups and usually meet monthly for formation and sharing. Many have benefited from retreats and pilgrimages that are sometimes arranged to the Rosminian sites in the north of Italy and they always look forward to the annual province day for the ascribed held at Grace Dieu. Also much appreciated and enjoyed is when we meet with the brethren for the Area Days normally held at St. Peter’s.

The province celebration which took place at Cardiff in 2005 for the 150th anniversary of the death of our Father Founder left us with special memories and much gratitude to God. We rejoice that the spirituality of Father Founder is embraced by both religious and laity and we thank God for this wonderful gift, especially as we reflect on the providential design of the Lord in bringing Rosmini’s Institutes to South Wales. Our prayer is that by the grace of God, we will continue to remain faithful to our Rosminian charism. Janet Blackman, St. Patrick’s, Newport.

Rosmini and St Ignatius

Tue, 28 Jul 2020 18:14:08 GMT

I cannot remember now what led me to find a series of articles on Rosmini and St Ignatius in the Italian magazine, Charitas, past copies of which occupy two shelves of the Rosminiana library at Derryswood. I remember noting them as interesting and then putting them aside for some months before returning to them and deciding to translate them. They were written in 1956 by one of our deceased Italian priests, Giovanni Pusineri, who was for many years director of Charitas and one of the intellectuals of the Institute.

Rosmini’s interest in St Ignatius is a fascinating subject. Students of church history will know that the Jesuit order, or the Society of Jesus, was suppressed from 1773–1814. This was a political act due to Clement XIV being under pressure from the secularists of the Enlightenment rather anything untoward religious. However in more felicitous times the Order was restored by Pius VII in 1814 when Rosmini was seventeen years old. But Ignatian spirituality had always stayed alive in the North of Italy. The Swiss ex-Jesuit Nicholas de Diesbach (1732–`1814) had kept on preaching the Spiritual Exercises. This explains why Rosmini had been interested in Ignatius and the Society of Jesus from his earliest years, and he rejoiced in their re-establishment.

In 1830 he made the Spiritual Exercises at S. Andrea al Quirinale in Rome and it was previous to this that he had corresponded with his friend Giuseppe Brunati who expressed a desire to enter the Jesuit Order. Rosmini was interested himself but never got as far as actually deciding to join it. He was greatly impressed with the retreat he made at S. Andrea and the retreat director realising this handed him the Rules of the Society. Rosmini was ,in fact, already familiar with them for he had managed earlier to obtain a copy not only of the Rules but also of the Constitutions. He expressed his appreciation to his director but he believed that the Rules needed some additions and modifications in keeping with the times in which he lived. Only a really erudite person could have made these remarks candidly, modestly and without arrogance. His astonished director sent him to a more experienced priest, Fr Rossini, who realised that the Jesuit Order was not for him but he added the prophetic words ‘you will meet with great difficulties: war will be waged against you, but trust in God and you will gain the victory’. I don’t suppose the good man ever dreamt that the opposition would come from the Jesuits themselves, who, still suffering from their recent suppression and fearing the influence and learning of Rosmini, instigated a slanderous and clandestine, polemic against him in 1840 which was to have lasting repercussions and gravely harm both Rosmini and his Institute.

Meanwhile Rosmini had recommended the Spiritual Exercises to his brethren and encouraged them not only to teach them but to make them themselves. With this in view he wrote his own spiritual exercises for the use of the retreat-giver called ‘Manuale dell’ esercitatore’ [Manuale for the Retreat-master]. This was first published in 1840. The modern Critical edition of this work (Rome, 1987) is edited by the learned Jesuit François Evain, S.J. who intriguely underlines the parts of the work which are taken from Ignatius’ own Spiritual Exercises. Pusineri’s articles make fascinating reading as he explains the early interest of Rosmini in the Jesuit Order and goes on to give a commentary of Rosmini’s work. This led me to translate and edit Pusineri’s articles; and hopefully the resulting book, The Spiritual Exercises in St Ignatius and Antonio Rosmini, will give English-speaking readers some insight into the Manuale pending a translation of the work which remains to be done.

J. Anthony Dewhirst

Feast of Blessed Antonio Rosmini

Wed, 01 Jul 2020 15:20:13 GMT

A very special Day!

July 1 is the Feast Day of the Founder of the Institute of Charity, Blessed Antonio Rosmini. - Priests of the charity are know as "Rosminians" and we have been serving within Great Britain since Fr Genteli (a disciple of Rosmini) arrived here on mission in 1835.

Welcome Message - Newly appointed Provost Provincials

Sat, 05 Jan 2019 15:51:27 GMT

PROVOST GENERAL - WELCOMES NEW PROVOST PROVINCIALS

Provost General Fr. Vito Nardin I.C has welcomed both Fr Christopher Fuse and Fr Joseph O'Reilly to the new roles as Provost Provincials:

AS FR. CHRISTOPHER FUSE BEGINS HIS NEW OFFICE AS THE PROVOST PROVINCIAL OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NEW ZEALAND,

AS FR. JOSEPH O’ REILLY BEGINS HIS NEW OFFICE AS THE PROVOST PROVINCIAL OF IRELAND AND USA,

I INVOKE UPON YOU AND ON ALL THE BRETHREN

OUR LORD’S BLESSING, THE INTERCESSION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, THE PROTECTION OF THE PATRON SAINTS AND BLESSED ANTONIO ROSMINI

FR. VITO NARDIN I.C

PROVOST GENERAL

ROME, 5TH JAN 2019

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General Chapter - Meeting with Pope Francis

Mon, 01 Oct 2018 14:30:52 GMT

An Audience with Pope Francis

Pope Francis on October 1 received in the Vatican, members of our Rosminian congregation, on the occasion of our General Chapter.

The Holy Father noted that Blessed Rosmini had wanted to call his religious family "Institute of Charity", precisely to highlight the supremacy of the virtue of charity, which according to St. Paul is "above all else".

The document from the Vatican documents this unique moment .

Following an inspiring talk concerning the unique Charism of Charity practiced by our congregation, Pope Francis gave a blessing on the congregation and asked for prayers for his own mission too.

View the official Vatican document - Download