The Spiritual Family The Work
Pressroom
The Spiritual Family The Work
Foundation and History of The Work
1938: Founded by Julia Verhaeghe (1910-1997) in Belgium
1959: First ecclesial approval of the Sisters’ Community as a Pia Unio in the Diocese of Tournai (Belgium)
1963: First centre of The Work outside of Belgium in Austria; in subsequent years, the Community expanded into various other countries.
1975: Opening of the International Centre of Newman Friends in Rome; branches later opened in Oxford-Littlemore (UK), Bregenz (Thalbach convent) and Budapest (Hungary).
1986: Priests’ Community formed and recognized in the Diocese of Feldkirch (Austria) and joined to the Sisters’ Community with a view to the future ecclesiastical approbation of The Work as an Institute of Consecrated Life
1999: Diocesan approval of The Work as an Institute of Consecrated Life in the Diocese of Rome
2001: Papal approval as a Family of Consecrated Life by Pope John Paul II
2013-2014: Apostolic Visitation initiated by the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life to identify criteria to more clearly define canonically the “New Form of Consecrated Life” and to investigate allegations by former members against the community. The conclusion of the Visitation gave instructions to revise the Constitutions and to inaugurate a General Chapter.
25th July 2023: Definitive Approval of the Constitutions
Currently, there are about 130 active consecrated members (Sisters, Brothers, deacons and priests) in eleven countries throughout Europe, The Holy Land and the USA.
The Thalbach Convent in Bregenz (Austria) is the Motherhouse of the Community. The final resting place of our foundress, Julia Verhaeghe, is found here.
The community’s seat is in Rome on Via di Val Cannuta 32 c, 00166 Roma.
Purpose
Structure
The Spiritual Family The Work consists of a community of consecrated men (Priests’ Community) and a community of consecrated women (Sisters’ Community) who form the core of the community. Diocesan clergy, married couples, families, widows, widowers, and single people may be members in a broader sense. Others are also united spiritually with The Work.
Fr. Thomas Felder, FSO is the international superior of the Priests’ Community.
Sr. Margarete Binder, FSO is the international superior of the Sisters‘ Community.
General questions can be addressed to: Contact
Press Kit: documents download as PDFs:
Safeguarding Leads
For the Sisters' Community:
Sr. Carmen Hämmerle FSO: carmen.haemmerle@thework-fso.org
Sr. Mirjam Hugens FSO: sr.mirjam@thework-fso.org
For the Priests' Community:
Fr. Gerhard Huber FSO: gerhard.huber@daswerk-fso.org
Fr. Martin Mayerhofer FSO: p.martin@daswerk-fso.org
Press Releases
25th July 2023: Definitive Approval of Constitutions