Does anyone know anything about the Spiritains?

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tmwtyh

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Hello everyone!

I’m wondering if anyone knows anything about the spiritians?
More specifically the Tanzanian branch of this order?
Are they orthodox?
Any information would be much appreciated (good and bad)!

tmwtyh.
 
Yes, no, they are not Orthodox in the US by any stretch of the imagination. I once had an experience with them (I won’t say where) where the prayed to the four winds. Also, others’ experiences as well. I don’t have time to go into the whole thing.
 
:extrahappy: Say,your experience with them,was it in the San Antonio ,Tx area? I ask,because they have or did have a Spiritan Retreat Center out on Interstate 35 North near Farm Road 1103
in the Schertz -Cibolo area. I think it’s part of Schertz,crazy city boundries.Anyhow, they had a place out there but never went for a retreat as i figured it was just for men.
 
My experience with the Spiritan fathers here in the US has been different than fmajor’s. They staff one of the beautiful old churches here in the city of Detroit, Old St. Mary’s in Greektown, and are quite orthodox. Latin NO Masses on Sunday, communion is distributed at the rail, several Masses every day, confessions heard before every Mass.

I go to daily Mass on my lunch break, and of the several churches downtown that offer a lunch-time Mass, St. Mary’s is my favorite for the reasons mentioned above. The Spiritans run a great parish here. And they’ve been great confessors. 🙂

oldstmarysdetroit.com/
 
👍 I am so glad to hear about the Spiritans in Detroit! Amazing. I just know of the ones in the south, so, you were right about the ones in San Antonio, maybe they are different other places. However, also remember, in religious orders (I was ordained for one), you can have older orthodox priests in one place, and the younger ones and ones in formation somewhere else.
 
Is this the same group that used to be known as “The Holy Ghost Fathers?”
 
Yeah, there’s only two of them, but they work well together. 🙂
fmajors said:
maybe they are different other places. However, also remember, in religious orders (I was ordained for one), you can have older orthodox priests in one place, and the younger ones and ones in formation somewhere else.
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That is very true, and something I’m constantly reminding people of. In just about every order in the church, you’ll find both the good, solid, orthodox priests and the progressive liberal priests, with everything in between. That’s just the nature of people.
 
Bishop Leverbe, formerly of the SSPX was at one time Superior of the Holy Ghost Fathers.
 
From going to a school run by the Spiritans, it is mixed in regards to orthodoxy. For the most part I can say that most of the priests are orthodox, but the most vocal and recognizable ones do appear to have an agenda (such as eliminating any masculine pronouns from the Mass). Without going into specifics, because of the nature of a public forum, I don’t know that every questionable activity that goes on is directly the fault of the Fathers. There are others coordinating liturgies and the priests do not always have a large say in what takes place (which goes back to the question of should lay people be in such positions where they take control away from the clergy). I don’t know anything about the Tanzanian branch of the Order, but the priests who come from Africa for the most part seem to be the most orthodox (but that is a VERY broad generalization). The Spiritans in my experience are very good men and are good Confessors as well!
 
The only Holy Ghost Fathers I knew were those that staffed Parish Churches for the Negro Communities in the South. . Those I knew were well educated, holy men. One priest staffing Holy Ghost Parish in my home town was from Grand Rapids Michigan, and was also Polish. He was from the same Polish parish in Grand Rapids as was my father. He was at our home on many occasions, just for rest and relaxation. Sad to say, he was shunned by many others in the 1940 and 1950 Louisiana setting.
Praayers & blessings
Deacon Ed B
 
Timmay said:
My experience with the Spiritan fathers here in the US has been different than fmajor’s. They staff one of the beautiful old churches here in the city of Detroit, Old St. Mary’s in Greektown, and are quite orthodox. Latin NO Masses on Sunday, communion is distributed at the rail, several Masses every day, confessions heard before every Mass.

I go to daily Mass on my lunch break, and of the several churches downtown that offer a lunch-time Mass, St. Mary’s is my favorite for the reasons mentioned above. The Spiritans run a great parish here. And they’ve been great confessors. 🙂

oldstmarysdetroit.com/
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My family and I went to Old Saint Mary’s on Easter and it was a beautiful experience! In fact, we would consider attending here regularly, if I did not work on Sundays. I have heard of similar concerns over the orthodoxy of the Spiritans (Holy Ghost Fathers), but did not see or hear anything even remotely unorthodox.
I do know that there was an issue a few years ago at Duquesne University, which is run by the Spiritans. The University allowed a “gay-straight alliance” club. This seems kind of odd considering the clarity of the objectively sinful nature of homosexual activity and, by the way, the Catholic Church’s official teaching on the issue. Perhaps there was pressure from the “gay rights” movement to allow the club.
 
I am not even Catholic, yet, but am very jaded, as regards the level of orthodoxy of average Catholics (including some religious and clergy). Everyone, individual and groups, seem to have some doctrinal issues that are difficult for them. I think is impossible for it to be different than this. The best we can hope, in my opinion, is that Catholic Church’s official moral teachings do not change and a significant portion of Catholics intend to be faithful. Also, and likely more importantly, Catholics can engage other Catholics (in a charitable manner) and try to win them over to orthodoxy. Ultimately, the faith has to strump the culture, and not the reverse. Let us being with ourselves.
 
eichenb2 said:
I am not even Catholic, yet, but am very jaded, as regards the level of orthodoxy of average Catholics (including some religious and clergy). Everyone, individual and groups, seem to have some doctrinal issues that are difficult for them. I think is impossible for it to be different than this.** The best we can hope, in my opinion, is that Catholic Church’s official moral teachings do not change** and a significant portion of Catholics intend to be faithful. Also, and likely more importantly, Catholics can engage other Catholics (in a charitable manner) and try to win them over to orthodoxy. Ultimately, the faith has to strump the culture, and not the reverse. Let us being with ourselves.
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BOLDING = MINE

As I have said in so many of my posts, “To be truly Catholic, one must believe all that the Church believes and teaches.” To think that any of us as an individual knows better than the pope and magisterium who are under the guidance of the Holy Spirit is ludicrous. Point of fact is that to spread ideas other than what is taught by the Magisterium is heretical.

The second point was answered beautifully by Archbishop Dolan in his response to a question by a reporter in his first press interview in New York, as its new Archbishop. He was asked whether he would push for ordination of women and be for gay marriage, etc. He was most gracious in his reply. He said that he could not teach these even if he wanted to do. His job was to have the people accept the true belief and teachings of the Church. Not to have the Church accept the erroneous beliefs of the people for the sake of political correctness. People need to realize this and have sincere self examinations.
 
Deacon_Ed_B said:
BOLDING = MINE

As I have said in so many of my posts, “To be truly Catholic, one must believe all that the Church believes and teaches.” To think that any of us as an individual knows better than the pope and magisterium who are under the guidance of the Holy Spirit is ludicrous. Point of fact is that to spread ideas other than what is taught by the Magisterium is heretical.

The second point was answered beautifully by Archbishop Dolan in his response to a question by a reporter in his first press interview in New York, as its new Archbishop. He was asked whether he would push for ordination of women and be for gay marriage, etc. He was most gracious in his reply. He said that he could not teach these even if he wanted to do. His job was to have the people accept the true belief and teachings of the Church. Not to have the Church accept the erroneous beliefs of the people for the sake of political correctness. People need to realize this and have sincere self examinations.
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I am on your side, chief. My point was only that if we are waiting for all Catholics and indiviuals to toe the right doctrinal, before engaging them, we will be waiting forever.
 
eichenb2 said:
I am on your side, chief. My point was only that if we are waiting for all Catholics and indiviuals to toe the right doctrinal, before engaging them, we will be waiting forever.
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This is why we all must pray for them without ceasing.
 
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