About the Paulist Fathers
Paulist Mission
The Missionary Society of St. Paul the Apostle (“The Paulist Fathers”) is a community of Catholic priests that seeks to introduce the Good News of Jesus Christ to people beyond the Church walls, and to accompany Catholics who feel apart from the Church.
Rooted in hopefulness, the Paulist Fathers trust that the Holy Spirit is not only present in the world but is actively breathing life into all things.
The Paulist Fathers’ mission priorities include appreciating and using the gifts of people of color in the Church; welcoming those who feel excluded; inviting more women into leadership and ministry; and engaging young adults in their 20s and 30s.
To accomplish our mission, the Paulist Fathers realize the importance of addressing the toxic polarization plaguing our Church and society.
Paulist Mission
The Missionary Society of St. Paul the Apostle (“The Paulist Fathers”) is a community of Catholic priests that seeks to introduce the Good News of Jesus Christ to people beyond the Church walls and to accompany Catholics who feel apart from the Church.
Rooted in hopefulness, the Paulist Fathers trust that the Holy Spirit is not only present in the world but is actively breathing life into all things.
The Paulist Fathers’ mission priorities include appreciating and using the gifts of people of color in the Church; welcoming those who feel excluded; inviting more women into leadership and ministry; and engaging young adults in their 20s and 30s.
To accomplish our mission, the Paulist Fathers realize the importance of addressing the toxic polarization plaguing our Church and society.
The foundations of Paulist prayer life happen in our formation program in Washington, DC. There, our seminarians learn that prayer is essential to being a Paulist. In our seminary, our men gather two times a day for common prayer - morning and evening - in addition to the daily celebration of the Eucharist.
At our Paulist foundations, the local community decides how best to gather together in common prayer. At some Paulist houses, the priests gather for morning prayer, and at other houses, for evening prayer. These patterns of prayer are usually guided by the pastoral responsibilities of the priests at the house.
Common prayer in our houses is balanced by individual prayer. In addition to praying the daily office from the Liturgy of the Hours - the prayer of the Church - Paulists also spend time in prayer reading scripture, meditating in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, praying the rosary, and in many other ways.
Paulist Prayer Life
Paulist Prayer Life
The foundations of Paulist prayer life happen in our formation program in Washington, DC. There, our seminarians learn that prayer is essential to being a Paulist. In our seminary, our men gather two times a day for common prayer - morning and evening - in addition to the daily celebration of the Eucharist.
At our Paulist foundations, the local community decides how best to gather together in common prayer. At some Paulist houses, the priests gather for morning prayer, and at other houses, for evening prayer. These patterns of prayer are usually guided by the pastoral responsibilities of the priests at the house.
Common prayer in our houses is balanced by individual prayer. In addition to praying the daily office from the Liturgy of the Hours - the prayer of the Church - Paulists also spend time in prayer reading scripture, meditating in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, praying the rosary, and in many other ways.
The Paulist Fathers are a community of disciples sharing a common life based on the fraternal love we share in Jesus Christ. Community life is a defining part of our vocation and mission.
As brothers, we commit ourselves to living, praying and working together at our foundations. We work to create an atmosphere of trust and respect for each other: celebrating important events in each other’s lives, caring for our brothers who are infirm or aging, encouraging each other’s talents, and spending time together.
Prompted by the Holy Spirit, we pledge ourselves as disciples and brothers to be ever more converted to be a joyful and prayerful Christian community that witnesses to the presence of Christ in our world.
Paulist Community Life
Paulist Community Life
The Paulist Fathers are a community of disciples sharing a common life based on the fraternal love we share in Jesus Christ. Community life is a defining part of our vocation and mission.
As brothers, we commit ourselves to living, praying and working together at our foundations. We work to create an atmosphere of trust and respect for each other: celebrating important events in each other’s lives, caring for our brothers who are infirm or aging, encouraging each other’s talents, and spending time together.
Prompted by the Holy Spirit, we pledge ourselves as disciples and brothers to be ever more converted to be a joyful and prayerful Christian community that witnesses to the presence of Christ in our world.
Life at the Hecker House - the Paulist House of Mission and Studies - offers a mix of serious study, lively discussion, social gatherings, deep reflection, and prayer. Our formation program has been in Washington, D.C. since 1889. Our novices and seminarians study nearby at The Catholic University of America.
Within this environment, our seminarians and novices not only discern a call to priesthood but uncover the unique dynamics of community life and their own talents.
Life at the Paulist Seminary
Life at the Paulist Seminary
Life at Hecker House - the Paulist House of Mission and Studies - offers a mix of serious study, lively discussion, social gatherings, deep reflection, and prayer. Our formation program has been in Washington, D.C. since 1889. Our novices and seminarians study nearby at The Catholic University of America.
Within this environment, our seminarians and novices not only discern a call to priesthood but uncover the unique dynamics of community life and their own talents.
Our Vocations Director
Paulist Fr. Ed Nowak is the Paulist Fathers' director of vocations.
Fr. Ed previously served as director of the St. Thomas More Newman Center in Columbus, OH, and director of the University Catholic Center in Austin, TX.
He is now in his second tour of duty as our community's vocations director.
A native of Pittsburgh, PA, Fr. Ed earned his undergraduate degree in ceramic science and engineering at Penn State University and his Master's of Divinity degree from The Catholic University of America.
He made his first promises to the Paulist community on August 11, 1984, and was ordained a priest on May 13, 1989.
Fr. Ed can be reached at (917) 763-7899 or vocations@paulist.org.
Lake George, New York, where Paulist seminarians visit every summer.