Pro Sanctity Movement Celebrates 60th Anniversary!
1947-2007
By Cathy McDonnell,
In 1947, the Servant of God, Bishop William Giaquinta – then Fr. Giaquinta – founded the Pro Sanctity Movement in Rome, Italy. In the early years of his priesthood, Bishop Giaquinta began to teach that the call to holiness is universal and that all people are called to become holy. This teaching – which was later proclaimed by Vatican Council II, in chapter V of Lumen Gentium – grew and developed over time, and Fr. Giaquinta’s passionate desire to draw all people to the love of God prompted many men and women to follow him in the apostolate of interior life and holiness. It was this awareness that inspired Fr. Giaquinta to found also two Secular Institutes devoted to the promotion of the universal call to holiness, namely: the Institute of Apostolic Oblates (for women) and the Institute of Apostolic Sodales (for diocesan priests). He also founded two ecclesial groups: the Priestly Movement, based on the spirituality of the Cenacl 9for priests), and the Social Animators (for laymen). The Pro Sanctity Movement is the umbrella under which the Institutes and the Ecclesial Groups conduct their apostolate.
The Pro Sanctity Movement embraces everyone (laity, religious, adults, youth, etc.). The Movement exists to provide means for the faithful to develop a spiritual life, and to grow in holiness! Bishop Giaquinta identified the purpose of the Movement in this way, “To love God and to make Him loved; to quench Christ’s thirst and help others quench His thirst; to strive for personal sanctification and form others in the ways of holiness.”
Today, the Pro Sanctity Movement is present and active in Latvia, Italy, Malta, India, Belgium, and the United States! The Movement first came to the United States – at the request of late Cardinal Francis McIntire – on May 24, 1962, when four Apostolic Oblates came from Rome to staff the St. Polycarp School in Stanton. Since 1962, the Movement has grown and continues to grow in California, New York, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, Iowa, Illinois, and Ohio.
Locally – especially in the Diocese of Orange – the Pro Sanctity Retreat Center is known for its hospitality. It welcomes people from near and far, and from all denominations. The Center – located on 205 S. Pine Drive, Fullerton, telephone (714) 956-1020 – hosts a wide range of activities including men’s retreats, women’s retreats, group retreats, opportunities for faith sharing, spiritual guidance, on-going faith formation for Pro Sanctity members, as well as for all people, and Summer Festivals of Faith for children. It has a beautiful, private chapel, and an extensive Catholic library. The Center also hosts a number of social events including an annual Black and White Dinner, Founder’s Day Celebration, Thanksgiving Dinner, New Year’s Eve celebration, an annual Seder Meal, and a monthly Pot-luck and Video lunches.
The Center is a place where Pro Sanctity members gather for fun, faith, and spiritual formation, but it does not stop at the personal level. Pro Sanctity members are available to go out and share “the call to holiness” in their homes, in the market place, work place, and their parish.
On Sunday, September 23, 2007, the P.S. Local Board hosted a 60th Anniversary Celebration of the Movement (1947-2007) at the Tustin Banquet Center. Over 100 members, friends, and supporters participated in the event. Rev. Frank E. Jindra, an Apostolic Sodalis priest, from the Archdiocese of Omaha, NE, addressed the gathering with a reflection on “Holiness: a Prophetic Call”.
Since USA was the first “mission” of the Movement (out of Italy) this Country had a special place in Bishop Giaquinta’s heart. Therefore, it was a tribute to Bishop Giaquinta to close the event with one of his favorite songs, “God Bless America!” May God Bless America with many saints for our time!
To know more about the Pro Sanctity Movement, and its related Institutes and Ecclesial groups, please visit: website at www.prosanctity.org.