Who we are

Who are the Piarists?

We are a Clerical Religious Order founded in the XVII century by St. Joseph Calasanz (1557-1648), and dedicated to the apostolate of educating children and youth, 'especially the poor, to which we consacrate ourselves with a fourth special vow.

St. Joseph Calasanz was declared "Universal Patron of all the Christian popular schools in the world" by Pope Pius XII, in 1948. He had the glory of opening "the first free tuition, popular, public school in Europe" (Von Pastor). He proclaimed the right to education of all children and he fought for it, and he was persecuted because of this. But at the same time, he had a marvellous success in asnwering the challenges and expectations of his time.

In 1617, he founded the Pauline Congregation of Poor Cleric Regulars of the Mother of God of the Pious Schools (the name "Pauline" comes from the Pope Paul V who approved it). Pope Gregory XV elevated the Congregation to Religious Order in 1621, as the actual name is. The Order soon was spread throughout the whole of Italy and Central Europe. It is currently present in 4 Continents (Europe, Asia, Africa and America) and in 32 countries.
It has 1421 Religious.