RELIGIOUS
TEACHERS FILIPPINI (M.P.F.)
MAESTRE
PIE FILIPPINI ORIGIN
The
Pontifical Institute of the Religious Teachers
Filippini (Maestre Pie Filippini) was founded by St.
Lucy Filippini in collaboration with Cardinal Marc
Antonio Barbarigo in 1704 in Italy. Emphasis was
placed on the education of girls especially the
children of the poor. In 1910, at the request of St.
Pius X, the Religious Teachers Filippini came to the
United States. Other foundations in various
countries followed.
CHARISM /
SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY
The
Spirit of the Institute finds its true expression in
the rich spirituality of St. Lucy Filippini, the
Foundress: an interior life of uninterrupted union
with God in prayer and intense apostolic activity,
which her complete immersion in the divine mysteries
made fruitful.
APOSTOLATE IN THE CHURCH Approximately 1100
Religious Teachers Filippini serve God's people in
the United States and in Italy as well as in Brazil,
England, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Ireland, India, Albania
and Switzerland. In the United States, the Maestre
serve in four archdioceses and in fourteen dioceses
mainly in elementary education, secondary education,
home missions, and parish apostolates.
ADMISSION
REQUIREMENTS A desire to grow in constant
companionship with the Father through Jesus, in the
Holy Spirit; the ability to live in community and to
serve in the Community's apostolate; average
physical, psychological, and emotional health;
average intelligence; and completion of high school.
FORMATION
PROGRAM
Postulancy: During the postulancy the candidate
becomes more clearly conscious of God's call. She is
guided to a deeper awareness of her baptismal
consecration. This period is normally not less than
ten months and does not exceed two years.
Novitiate: The novitiate is the privileged time,
which the young lady is led to a more profound
understanding of her particular call to holiness and
is initiated in the daily living of the religious
life according to the spirit of the Institute. The
duration of the novitiate is two years; the first
year constitutes the canonical year.
Juniorate:
The juniorate continues in every aspect the
formative action of the novitiate. It consolidates
the spiritual, doctrinal, professional, and
apostolic formation required to actuate in the
Church the mission begun by Saint Lucy. This period
of formation is not less than three years and,
normally, not more than five.
Perpetual
Oblation: This offering is a responsible, free, and
perpetual gift of the person's life to God that he
may consecrate her for his service as she lives the
evangelical counsels according to the spirit of St.
Lucy Filippini.