OFFICIAL NAME
Work of Saint Teresa
ESTABLISHED
1938
HISTORY
The Work of Saint Teresa was founded at Málaga, Spain, by Fr José Soto Chuliá (1887-1975). Driven by a great zeal for priests and wishing to help them in every way possible, he began to think of the possibility of training lay women who, for love of Christ, would devote themselves with an undivided heart to serve the Church represented by the priests and by looking after parish houses. Father Chuliá shared his idea with some of his spiritual daughters, and they saw it as their own vocation. The experience spread gradually to the whole country, and in 1960 it was canonically erected as a Pious Union in the diocese of Valencia. On 2 February 1996, the Pontifical Council for the Laity decreed recognition of Obra de Santa Teresa as an international association of the faithful of Pontifical Right.
IDENTITY
The Work of Saint Teresa is a movement for women who live their baptismal vocation by placing themselves at the service of priests. Knowing the Christian life is lived through the sacraments and the practice of virtues, they strive to cultivate a deep interior life, nurtured by prayer and by daily Communion, and to acquire an authentic spirit of devotion to the Church taking the hidden life of the Virgin Mary at Nazareth as their model. Their formation is based on the Word of God, the teachings of Vatican II, the pontifical Magisterium and the writings of the Saints. The members perform their mission in parish houses, priests’ residences and seminaries.
ORGANISATION
The Work of Saint Teresa is governed by a General Council made up of the Director, Deputy Director, Secretary, Treasurer and members appointed by them. Women can join the association as aspirants, as associates with temporary ties, or as full associates.
MEMBERSHIP
The Movement has 62 members in 6 countries as follows: Europe (1), South America (5).
HEADQUARTERS
Obra de Santa Teresa
Calle Carlet, 2
Apartado 175
46900 Torrente - Valencia - Spain
Tel. [+34]96.1550945
