Welcome to the site of the TransCanada Province of the Spiritans. We are a Roman Catholic Religious Congregation of over three thousand members, founded in 1703. Our missions are spread worldwide. While we may be found involved in many diverse ministries, we have dedicated ourselves to working with the poor and in those situations where the Church has difficulty in finding ministers. We hope you enjoy your visit to our site and that while browsing you will keep us in your prayers. May God bless you.

The Spiritan Association with Mary

On Pentecost Sunday, May 27th 1703, after Mass, in Our Lady's chapel of the church of St. Etienne des-Grès in Paris in front of the statue of Notre Dame de Bonne Délivrance, the so called Black Madonna of Paris, the 24-year-old, not yet ordained, Claude Francis Poullart Des Places (1679 - 1709) and his dozen friends consecrated themselves to bring the Good News to the poor by dedicating themselves to the Holy Spirit under the invocation of the Blessed Virgin. That day marked the humble beginnings of the Spiritans, the Congregation of the Holy Ghost.

Nearly one hundred and forty years later, on September 25th, 1841, the newly ordained convert to Catholicism, Francis Mary Paul Libermann, recent founder of the Society of the Holy Heart of Mary, celebrated his first Mass in Paris at the shrine of Notre Dame des Victoires. Fr. Libermann would, a few years later in 1848, merge his fledgling but vibrant society with the older, established Holy Ghost congregation, bringing about a renewal and a new vitality. Fr. Libermann is known as our "second founder."

Spiritans, The Congregation of the Holy Ghost Laval House 121 Victoria Park Ave. Toronto, Ontario CANADA M4E 3S2 www.spiritans.com