Spiritan Friends

Posted On 16th Oct 2026

Dear parishioners!

What order are our priests?

You guessed right - Spiritans

How many of you like Fr. Francis and Fr. Arinze?

Great!

Now how many of you would like to be friends of Father Francis and Father Arinze?

This tells me only one thing: that you are happy to be friends of the Spiritans!

Now let’s compare what being a normal friend is with being a Spiritan Friend, one of what they call Lay Spiritan Associates. Look at your screens (the table below is displayed) Here's a table comparing a normal friendship with Spiritan Friends. Their friendship is often influenced by shared values, faith, and spiritual practices.

Foundation

Normal Friendship

Based on mutual interests, personal connection, and common activities.

Spiritan Friends

Rooted in shared faith, spiritual values, and Spiritan ideals (charisms).

SPIRITUALITY

Normal Friendship

May or may not involve spiritual discussions or practices.

Spiritan Friends

Central to the relationship, often involving prayer, spiritual growth, and shared mission.

Purpose

Normal Friendship

Primarily about companionship, fun, and mutual support.

Spiritan Friends

Focused on supporting the Spiritan mission in Canada, growing together in faith and supporting each other in spiritual and community life.

Guidance

Normal Friendship

Informal guidance based on personal experience or advice.

Spiritan Friends

Ongoing formation and spiritual guidance come from Spiritan religious teachings, including the writings of the Spiritan Founders, Scripture, the Guide for Lay Spiritan Associates, and community reflection and prayer.

Activities

Normal Friendship

Hanging out, sports, movies, social events, etc.

Spiritan Friends

Prayer, religious events, retreats, volunteering, or community service based on the Spiritan Charism and in various forms of support for Spiritan ministries as required.

Emotional Support

Normal Friendship

Offering advice or support in personal or life challenges.

Spiritan Friends

Support is also spiritual, helping friends in their faith journey and personal struggles.

How much time is expected

Normal Friendship

Good friends – spend more.
Flexible
Special occasions
Regular

Spiritan Friends

The flexibility makes it accessible for people with various time constraints, and the level of involvement can be tailored to your availability and willingness.

What's in it for me

Normal Friendship

Friends for life

Spiritan Friends

Friends for life, through both moments of celebration and times of adversity.
Make a positive impact in the world
Spiritual and intellectual growth
Sense of Purpose and Meaning
Connection to a Global Spiritan Community

Whether you are a long-time member of our parish or visiting for the first time, you are now being invited to become part of something truly transformative - Spiritan Friends.

All whose hands were up to join the Spiritans Friends, I encourage you today to register by providing your name and contact information to the volunteers at the narthex or visit our website and register online. Together, we can walk this beautiful path of faith and friendship and make a lasting difference in each other's lives and in the world around us.

Our first meeting is on October 30th at 7:00 pm

We look forward to journeying with you as Spiritan Friends.Thank you!

Registration Form

resources - book

Guide for Lay Spiritan Associates 2016 (pdf)

resources - videos

resources - reading

Smith, D. L. (2008). Libermann’s Spirituality: A Spirituality of Presence. Spiritan Horizons, 3 (3). Retrieved from https://dsc.duq.edu/spiritan-horizons/vol3/iss3/7

Cleary, W. (2020). Francis Libermann: A Spiritual Guide for the Twenty-First Century. Spiritan Horizons, 16 (16). Retrieved from https://dsc.duq.edu/spiritan-horizons/vol16/iss16/6

Balu, M. B. (2023). François Libermann, the Savernois melting pot of a Jew founder of a religious congregation. Spiritan Horizons, 20 (20). Retrieved from https://dsc.duq.edu/spiritan-horizons/vol20/iss20/6

Whelan, M. (2025). A Journey in Prayer with Father Libermann. Spiritan Horizons, 21 (21). Retrieved from https://dsc.duq.edu/spiritan-horizons/vol21/iss21/9

Cleary, B. (2023). “Doing Something New” with Venerable Francis Libermann. Spiritan Horizons, 20 (20). Retrieved from https://dsc.duq.edu/spiritan-horizons/vol20/iss20/7

Le Meste, J. (2019). Libermann and “Practical Union”. Spiritan Horizons, 14 (14). Retrieved from https://dsc.duq.edu/spiritan-horizons/vol14/iss14/5

Jung, R. (2018). The Relevance of Poullart des Places for Spiritan Identity and Mission. Spiritan Horizons, 13 (13). Retrieved from https://dsc.duq.edu/spiritan-horizons/vol13/iss13/6

Savoie, J. (2006). Claude Poullart des Places: How a Young Man Became a Founder. Spiritan Horizons, 1 (1). Retrieved from https://dsc.duq.edu/spiritan-horizons/vol1/iss1/6

de Mare, C. (2008). Claude-François Poullart des Places: The Shaping of a Vocation. Spiritan Horizons, 3 (3). Retrieved from https://dsc.duq.edu/spiritan-horizons/vol3/iss3/6

Parsons, J. (2023). What Made the Spiritans Different?: Historical Reflections from des Places to Libermann. Spiritan Horizons, 20 (20). Retrieved from https://dsc.duq.edu/spiritan-horizons/vol20/iss20/4

Fradet, Y. M. (2012). The Holy Spirit in Spiritan Life and Mission. Spiritan Horizons, 7 (7). Retrieved from https://dsc.duq.edu/spiritan-horizons/vol7/iss7/9

Ukwuije, B. U. (2015). The Holy Spirit in Spiritan Life. Spiritan Horizons, 10 (10). Retrieved from https://dsc.duq.edu/spiritan-horizons/vol10/iss10/8