THE ORDER
OF SAINT PAUL
THE FIRST
HERMIT

ORDO SANCTI PAULI PRIMI EREMITAE

WHO WE ARE

What is our Order? Where did it come from? How have the Pauline Fathers and Brothers developed over the centuries in serving God and the Church? Each religious community is rooted in God and grows in the specific conditions of time and place, creating its own charism and spirituality and shaping its identity.

Inspired by St. Paul the First Hermit, Pauline Fathers and Brothers lead lives guided by prayerful contemplation. These times of solitude spent with God strengthen them for their active pastoral service in parishes and shrines. Find out more about the history of our Order, which can also become your story. Get to know our spirituality that will help you develop and strengthen your faith. Go out into the desert to meet God alone.

1215

founded

4

continents

16

countries in which we operate

23

facilities in Poland

00

locations abroad

500

brothers in the entire order

WHERE WE LIVE

Over time, our Order began to grow among new people of different places and cultures. Today we are an international community reaching four continents, spreading the Good News about Jesus regardless of place, language, customs, or challenges. Every human being needs God, regardless of skin color or origin, so we try to answer God’s call in different parts of the world; where we already serve, we bring the spirit of peace, joy, and hope, not forgetting our contemplative roots.
If you are interested in our ministry, please click on the link below.

MAP OF OUR MONASTERIES

Our Order originated in Europe in the thirteenth century. Over time our religious community began to grow among new people of different places and cultures Currently our Order is an international community spread over four continents.

CLICK TO SEE INTERACTIVE MAP

THE ORDER’S GENERAL GOVERNMENT

General of the Order

Fr. Arnold Chrapkowski

Vicar General

Fr. Michał Lukoszek

II Definitor

Fr. Ryszard Dec

III Definitor

Fr. Piotr Łoza

IV Definitor

Br. Bernard Kluczkowski

Procurator General at the Apostolic Capital

Fr. Bazyli Degórski

General Administrator

Fr. Marek Moga

Secretary General

Fr. Bartłomiej Maziarka

OUR CHARISM

As a semi-contemplative monastic community, with eremitical roots, the Order fosters a spirit of contemplation among its members. The Pauline monks, mindful of the character and spirit of the Community, strive to properly unite contemplation and the spirit of prayer with various forms of apostolic work. These two parts of our charism are lived out in a community life; as Jesus said, “Where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst” (Matthew 18:20).

HOW TO BECOME A PAULINE

Is there anything that catches your attention in our Order, that made you think about the Pauline way of life? Maybe a white habit suits you? Maybe you would like to develop your devotion to Our Lady. A vocation is the voice of God, which calls for a specific dedication to Him in the service of love. This call must be responded to in an active and concrete way through proper discernment. Contact with a vocations director, participation in a vocation retreat or spending a few days in a monastery can help you with this. See what you need to do to be able to enter better and feel the spirit of the community.

Seminary of the Pauline Order

In 1653, the Pauline monks received permission from the Holy See to open a house of philosophical and theological studies. The choice fell on Skałka. Thus, Pauline studies have their beginnings right here, on Skałka, under the royal Wawel..

Pauline
Youth Days

The youth ministry operating at the Pauline monasteries is a proposal for those who seek a relationship with God, want to understand faith and share its experience among other young people, finding their place in the Church.

Community
of Blessed Euzebius

We are a community of people who are close to the Pauline Order, its charism and spirituality, and who want to participate in its mission. The purpose of the Community is to support the Pauline Order in all its activities through prayer.

Jasna Góra
Rosary Family

Everyone can join in the work of the Jasna Góra Rosary Family. By praying the Holy Rosary, both individually and as members of other prayer communities, we can create a spiritual bond with Jasna Góra, recommending the intentions of this community in addition to our personal ones.

JASNA GÓRA JASNA GÓRA SHRINE

Jasna Gora Monastery in Czestochowa, Poland, is the largest Pauline monastery in the world. Currently there are over a hundred monks living there. It is also the center of the Order, due to the fact that it is the General House for our entire community. This is where Father General and General Council reside. Together they make the most important decisions concerning the life and functioning of the entire Pauline community in the world. Every six years a General Chapter, which exercises the highest authority in the Order and elects the General Superior, also takes place at this monastery.

FLAMES
GETHERED IN A MONASTERY

We invite you to listen to and watch a series of 12 conversations on spirituality. These films were created on the occasion of the Jubilee Year of the 750th anniversary of the death of Blessed Eusebius, the founder of the Order of St. Paul and the Hermit.
We want the subsequent topics and reflections proposed by our interlocutors to serve the Pauline Fathers and Brothers, Confreres and all Friends of the Order in individual and community reflection on the heritage and contemporary times of our vocation.

GO TO PLAYLIST