Chapter Guidelines for Shepherds
of Christ Associates
A primary purpose of the chapters of
Shepherds of Christ Associates is to pray for all
priests throughout the world in all their needs. A coequal purpose
is to provide a spiritual way of life for members of the chapters.
The chapters are to pray in a special way for the spiritual success
of the priestly newsletter, Shepherds of Christ. Prayer for
the acquisition of monetary funds to publish the letter is also in
order. The chapters are to meet on a regular basis, with the members
of each chapter to determine the exact frequency of meetings. All
chapters are encouraged to meet on a weekly basis. If for various
other reasons certain chapters cannot meet weekly, they should meet
at least once a month.
All persons--lay persons, diocesan
clergy, and priests, brothers, and sisters in religious life--are
invited to become members of Shepherds of Christ
Associates. Those who are already committed to a certain way of
spiritual life may adapt the spirituality of Shepherds of Christ
Associates to their own particular spirituality.
In addition to the purpose of the chapters as put
forth above, the members of each chapter are encouraged to help
raise money to defray some of the newsletter publication costs and
some of the financial needs of the Shepherds of Christ
Associates movement. One way for chapters to financially aid the
newsletter is to pledge to pay for a certain number of newsletters
each year. Our Lord has asked that the newsletter be sent to the
priests free of charge, although donations may be requested in the
newsletter itself.
A further purpose of the chapters is
to undertake those activities which Jesus, through the Spiritual
Director, further reveals to be His will.
The formation of as many chapters as
is reasonably possible is to be encouraged. Multiple chapters may
exist in the same city or area. Each chapter is to have its own
local coordinator, and each country its own national coordinator.
A periodic newsletter for associates
will be published to help establish the desired bond or union
between all chapters and all members.
Members of Shepherds of Christ
Associates pledge their loyal support to the Holy Father, the
Pope, and to the teaching authority of the Church.
Shepherds of Christ
Associates exists under Church law as provided in canons 298 and
299.
The existence and activity of all
chapters is to be placed under the special protection and guidance
of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Chapters exist so that they may, according to the mission of
Shepherds of Christ Associates, help to establish the
triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the reign of the Sacred
Heart of Jesus. All chapter members are strongly encouraged to
consecrate themselves to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the
Immaculate Heart of Mary.