SOCIETY OF THE PRECIOUS BLOOD
(S.P.B.)
An ecumenical religious community founded 1887.07.01 in Gardner,
Wisconsin, U.S.A., by Bishop (then Rev.) J. René Vilatte and Father
Jean-Baptiste Gauthier. Reorganized under its present form, by CCRCC
Corporation, on 1993.07.01, in Hull, Quebec, Canada.
Goals
Socio-personal development and religious growth of its members, coupled
with an earnest desire to contribute to the Church of Christ Uniting. This,
through individual and corporate prayer and worship, pastoral counseling and
works of mercy.
Ecclesial status
The S.P.B. is a member unit of the Christian Catholic Rite of Community
Churches (CCRCC). The Rite is administered from Hull, Quebec, Canada, by the
Community Church of St. Bernard& St. Gregory (CCSBSG).
Organization
The S.P.B. is under the leadership of an elected Prior, who
reports to the Bishop Ordinary of the CCRCC. A Secretary, a Treasurer and a
Master of Novices are chosen among the religious to form the Council of the
Society.
Categories of religious
There are two categories of religious in the S.P.B.:
·
those
in Holy Orders, who exercise a pastoral ministry as priests or deacons;
·
lay
cooperators, who assist at the altar as subdeacons; participate in the liturgy of
the Word as readers; and/or exercise other non-ordained ministries (works of
mercy, etc.).
Obligations of
the religious
Beside exercising ordained and non-ordained ministries, the religious
commit themselves to the observance of the Rule of the community, including individual
and corporate prayer, and celebration of the Holy Eucharist. On a regular
basis, they get together for a prayer and worship service, which is conducted
by the Prior.
Ceremony of
admission
Religious are admitted in the S.P.B. through a formal ceremony, which
takes place on the feast of the Precious Blood of Jesus, on July 1st, or at any
other significant time during the year, preferably during the celebration of
the Holy Eucharist. There are three components to the ceremony:
·
the
candidate's religious commitment to and his/her clothing by the Prior;
·
his/her
religious profession to the CCRCC Bishop Ordinary.
Religious habit
& medal
S.P.B. religious wear a white alb or cassock and a cincture. On the left
side of their chest is attached a medal bearing the emblem of the Society. This
medal is blessed and attached to the religious habit by the Prior during the
ceremony of admission into the Society.
Temporary &
perpetual professions
Religious are admitted on a temporary basis and they renew their
commitment for three years, on the anniversary date of their admission to the
Society. This commitment may become perpetual after three years, at the request
of the religious, if the Prior makes a favourable recommendation in that sense
to the CCRCC Bishop Ordinary.
Third Order
Any mature person who wish to identify with the Society; to share its
mission and to support it financially and/or through prayer may join the Third
Order.
These persons may either join as individuals or as a group and for a
Chapter in the area where they life. They can also join an existing Chapter.
Third Order members are admitted by the Prior in the presence of CCRCC
Bishop Ordinary or by the Director of a Chapter who has been commissioned to
that effect by the Prior and the CCRCC Bishop Ordinary.
There is a special ceremony for admitting Third Order members, where
they commit themselves to the spirit of the Rule, to individual and corporate
prayer, and to regular participation in the Holy Eucharist with the religious
or with the members of their Chapter.
Third Order members do not have a distinctive habit but receive the
medal bearing the emblem of the Society, and they wear it when they get
together for prayer and worship in their Chapter or with the religious.
S.P.B. Council
Grand prior
Very Reverend
Father Willard Dionne, S.P.B.
French Chapter
Prior:
Very Reverend Father Willard Dionne, S.P.B.