CNA Newsroom, Aug 7, 2023 / 08:45 am
The Spiritual Family “The Work,” a Catholic community founded in 1938 by Mother Julia Verhaeghe and recognized by St. John Paul II in 2001 as a “family of consecrated life,” has secured definitive approval of its constitutions from the Vatican’s Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.
This significant endorsement, announced on the feast of the apostle James on July 25, underscores the growing influence of The Work, which boasts houses in 12 countries, including the United States.
Eucharistic adoration is an important part of the prayer life of the community, Father Hermann Geissler, FSO, a prominent figure in the community, said in an interview with CNA Deutsch, CNA’s German-language news partner agency.
“We want to form a spiritual family of brothers and sisters in which Jesus Christ is the center and the mystery of the Church can be experienced,” said Geissler, emphasizing the community’s focus on faith, unity, and complementarity among its members.