Lay Spiritans are an energetic and committed group of people who serve and relate to the Congregation in a many different ways to share their time and talents to make the world a better place.

Read profiles and thoughts from associate spiritans.

John Buettler, Holy Ghost Preparatory School faculty Guidance Counselor and former English Professor, Bensalem, PA. He has been a faculty member at Holy Ghost for 33 years. He and his sons are alumni of the school and his wife is the librarian. He is a member of a Lay Spiritan group that includes other faculty members.

"Lay people bring an energy to the Spiritan community that comes from being present in and aware of the world. The spirit goes where it will, which is compatible with the life of a lay person who has kids, family, a job. It is a spirituality that interprets life as it is lived. The Spiritans have had a vital formative role in my life. They have been more of a father to me than any other man in my life. They performed my marriage, baptized my children, celebrated my 25th wedding anniversary, and married my first child. They are very dear to me." 

Who is an Associate Spiritan?

Associate Spiritans are individuals called by God to live in practical union with God in the Spirit. While not vowed Spiritan "brothers" or "sisters", lay Spiritans are an essential part of the Spiritan family. Also called Lay Spiritans, they use their gifts to work with the Spiritan fathers and brothers throughout the Congregation's ministry. Throughout Spiritan history, they have supported the priests in the U.S. and in mission.

By integrating the Congregation's charism into their everyday lives, associate Spiritans are witnesses to the scriptural truth that there are "many gifts, one Spirit."  They serve as campus ministers, parish ministers, school principals, researchers, and college professors, sharing Christ's word as missionaries abroad and as social workers, fund-raisers, and after-school program coordinators in America. Read their stories.