Today marks a 160th anniversary for our community.

On March 6, 1858, Pope Pius IX dispensed four of Fr. Isaac Hecker‘s associates from their vows as priests of The Redemptorists.

These four priests were Fr. Clarence Walworth, Fr. Augustine Hewit, Fr. George Deshon and Fr. Francis Baker (the four are pictured here).

Together with Fr. Hecker, these men became the first Paulist Fathers on July 7, 1858.

In the official document Cardinal Della Genga wrote that Pope Pius IX wanted the four priests to:

” … spare no labor in the prosecution of the holy missions, in the conversion of souls, and in the dissemination of Christian doctrine.”

“His Holiness confidently trusts,” the document continues, “that the above mentioned priests will labor by work, example, and word in the vineyard of the Lord, and give themselves with alacrity to the eternal salvation of souls, and promote with all their power the sanctification of their neighbor.”

Please pray for us on this special anniversary for our community!

Learn more about the founding and mission of our community.

Read Paulist Fr. Ron Franco’s blog post for today’s anniversary with many more details and quotes from Fr. Hecker’s letters.