A St. Antoninus Circle is a parish-based group of professional people interested in studying the social teachings of the Church in order to better live these teachings and apply them to their own lives. Members are also encouraged to promote the development of St. Antoninus Circles in other parishes, so that the social teachings will be better understood and appreciated throughout the Catholic community, but also the nation and the world.
The organization of each St. Antoninus Circle is very flexible and is left to one of several persons who are the first founders of the Circle in a parish. The organization is also expected to evolve with the need of the people who come to be part of the Circle.
Leaders and members decide - how frequently to conduct meetings (although it is a good idea to try with once a month), which day or time to meet. It is however highly recommended to meet on the grounds of the Parish Church.
Leaders and members decide how the Formation program will be conducted and how the lessons can be utilized: - each member is responsible to present a lesson, or to coodinate the talks around one lesson, or the same member presents all the lessons...
The required elements of a St. Antoninus Circle are thus:
- An educational element: during each meeting some parts of the social
doctrine of the Church is studied, utilizing the formation documents developed
by the St. Antoninus Institute.
- A spiritual element: during each meeting some time is dedicated to
prayer and sacraments or sacramental, with a choice between Mass, adoration
of the Blessed Sacrament, Rosary or a combination thereof.
- A social element: during each meeting time is allocated for members to meet over coffee and donuts or pic-nic or whatever form of gathering so that participants come to know each other, preferably so that they share further personal insights on the studies of the day.
Leaders and members decide the degree of development of each element of their parish Circle.
It is recommended that a Circle Leader be first chosen, then elected, as well as a secretary and a treasurer. When a Circle is well in place it is expected to make a donation to the parish for the utilization of the facilities.
Members of a St. Antoninus Circle are encouraged to become members of the St. Antoninus Institute. The membership rate for Circle members in the Institute will always be less than for isolated individuals. It is now $30, when regular members' membership fee is $35. There is also a membership fee of $75 per St. Antoninus Circles which entitles the Circle to assistance from the Institute and 5 issues of the Newsletter.
How to get started
- First Step: have one or two or three first volunteers meet with the
pastor (hint: a deacon can be of very valuable assistance to such Circle
and be liaison with pastor afterwards) about setting up a parish St. Antoninus
Circle. Decide on the parameters: meetings, educational elements, spiritual
and liturgical prayers, social gatherings; download formation documents
from this St. Antoninus Institute page.
- Second step: announce the formation of the Circle to all parishioners
and start first meetings.
- Third Step: contact St. Antoninus Institute on the progress of the establishment of the Circle.
If the parish based group meets the requirement and broad definition formulated by the Institute for a Circle, the group will be officially recognized as a St. Antoninus Circle and will be brought in the general organization of Circles.
The Saint Antoninus Institute offers a Networking Bulletin Board for
its members jobs or business needs in its Newsletter. Members are also offered
the opportunity to post messages in the JOB BANK of the "Business and Economics
Forum" which the St. Antoninus Institute hosts in the international computer-based
Catholic Resource Network (CRNET). 
Click here to return to St. Antoninus Homepage: "St. Antoninus Institute Home Page"
email to: St.Antoninus Institute