A Society of Apostolic Life is a group of men or women within the Catholic Church who have come together for a specific purpose. Unlike members of an Institute of Consecrated Life or a religious order, members of apostolic societies do not make religious vows. This type of organisation is defined in the Code of Canon Law under canons 731-755.
While members of apostolic societies have some community life, the mission of the community is given emphasis; members can be re-assigned among the various communities of the society as needed, and this lack of stability distinguishes this kind of society from some religious orders, such as the Benedictines, Poor Clares or Cistercians.
A community needs the written approval of a bishop to operate within his diocese. Clerics of a society of apostolic life are usually incardinated into the society and not the diocese, unless specified otherwise in the its constitution (e.g. the Sulpicians who are members of both the Society and diocese). Each community has a right to its own oratory.
Members of a Society of Apostolic Life are allowed to own personal property, but must normally live in community.
Canon Law (canon 731) speaks of such societies as being "comparable to institutes of consecrated life". They are regulated by the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.
In November 1970, bishop François Charrière (upon request by Archbishop Lefebvre) established the Society of St. Pius X as a pia unio on a provisional ("ad experimentum") basis for six years. Pia unio status was the first stage through which a Catholic organisation passed prior to gaining official recognition as a religious institute or society of apostolic life.
Societies of Apostolic Life
- Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest
- Maryknoll
- Missionaries of the Precious Blood
- Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter
- Society of Saint-Sulpice
- Oratory of Saint Philip Neri
- Institute of the Good Shepherd
- Paulist Fathers
- Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul
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