The Priestly Fraternity of St Peter
(FSSP)
About the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP)
The Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP) is a Society of Apostolic Life of Pontifical Right. This means it is a community of priests who do not take religious vows but work together for a common mission in the Catholic Church.
Our Mission:
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Formation and Sanctification of Priests:
The Fraternity focuses on the formation and sanctification of priests within the framework of the traditional liturgy, commonly known as the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite. -
Care of Souls and Pastoral Activities:
In service to the Church, the Fraternity is dedicated to the pastoral care of souls and a variety of other pastoral activities.
History:
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Foundation:
The Fraternity was founded on July 18, 1988, at the Abbey of Hauterive in Switzerland by a group of twelve priests and around twenty seminarians. -
Establishment in Wigratzbad:
Shortly after its foundation, at the request of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Bishop Josef Stimpfle of Augsburg, Germany, granted the Fraternity a home in Wigratzbad, a Marian shrine in Bavaria. This location now houses the European seminary of the Fraternity and serves as the mother-house of the community. -
General House:
The General House of the Fraternity is located in Fribourg, Switzerland.
Current Status:
The Fraternity currently has almost 320 priests and 162 seminarians. The community continues to grow, dedicated to its mission of forming holy priests and serving the faithful through the traditional liturgy and pastoral care.