Work of Saint Teresa

The Work of Saint Teresa was founded at Málaga, Spain, by Fr José Soto Chuliá (1887-1975). Driven by a great zeal for priests and wishing to help them in every way possible, he began to think of the possibility of training lay women who, for love of Christ, would devote themselves with an undivided heart to serve the Church represented by the priests and by looking after parish houses. Father Chuliá shared his idea with some of his spiritual daughters, and they saw it as their own vocation.

Biographical Information

Founder: Father José Soto Chuliá

Foundation: Founded in 1938 in Málaga, Spain.

Ecclesial Recognition: Recognized on February 2, 1996 as an international association of the faithful of Pontifical Right by the Pontifical Council for the Laity.

Membership: Present in 6 countries: Europe (1), South America (5).

Membership: 62 members
- women only
- lay

Organization

Lay/Religious: lay

Individual/Community: The movement is governed by a General Council.

Commitment/Vows: Women can join the association as aspirants, as associates with temporary ties, or as full associates.

Purpose and Activities

Overall Purpose: The Work of Saint Teresa is a movement for women who live their baptismal vocation by placing themselves at the service of priests.

Apostolic commitments: To serve the Church represented in priests; looking after parish houses. Formation based on the Word of God, the teachings of Vatican II, the pontifical magisterium and the writings of the saints.

Marian Characteristics

Major Inspirations: Service to priests; An authentic spirit of devotion to the Church taking the hidden life of Virgin Mary at Nazareth as model.

General Marian Characteristics: Deep interior life; hidden life of Mary as a model for spiritual formation

Spiritual\Devotional Exercises: interior life, nurtured by prayer and daily communion.

Pastoral/Apostolic Endeavors: Practice of virtue

Sources

Directory of International Associations of the Faithful, Pontifical Council for the Laity, available at: http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/laity/documents/rc_pc_laity_doc_20051114_associazioni_en.html