ABOUT US
ABOUT US
Our UK and New Zealand Province
Our UK and New Zealand Province
The Institue of Charity (The Rosminians) has been present In England and Wales, since 1835. The first Rosminian religious were excellent missionaries and the example of Fr Luigi Gentili (considered a very holy priest) generated great fervour and many conversions across the UK. Schools were soon opened, and parishes were assigned to Rosminian priests.Two of the schools, Grace Dieu and Ratcliffe still provide excellent education, and are also available to non-Catholic students as well. In Rugby, Leicester, London, Cardiff, Newport and Loughborough the parishes entrusted to the Rosminian Fathers are thriving, and Rosminians from India and Africa are now involved and support these parishes.
The Beatification of Fr. Rosmini (November 2007) was a great event for the Church: it is a public expression of the heroic virtues of the Servant of God that makes him a model to imitate and allows the faithful to publicly venerate him; it is also a full acceptance by the Church of his spirituality and charism, and a solemn declaration that the spiritual path traced by him is in accordance with the Gospel and leads to Christ.
The Mission
“The end of this Society is to care lovingly for the sanctification of the members who compose it and, by means of their sanctification, to expend whatever longings and strength it has in all works of charity, and especially for the eternal salvation of every one of its neighbours.”
“The end of this Society is to care lovingly for the sanctification of the members who compose it and, by means of their sanctification, to expend whatever longings and strength it has in all works of charity, and especially for the eternal salvation of every one of its neighbours.”
Provincial Fr. Christ Fuse I.C.
It is a joy and a privilege to welcome you to our website. Our aim is to give you an insight into the Institute of Charity (The Rosminians); our charisms, our mission here in the UK and across the rest of the world, and the invitation to further enlighten your faith through the vast treasury of writings and teaching passed onto us by our founder Blessed Antonio Rosmini.
Antonio Rosmini
Our founder Antonio Rosmini (born in 1797) was a brilliant Theologian, Philosopher and Catholic Priest. He formed the Institue of Charity, and was passionate about supporting the Catholic faith here in the UK. His deepest feelings were revealed in some of his writings to the community:
"The English Catholics are so near my heart that I cannot think of anything I would not do if I could help them in the slightest way; and I believe I would not let pass anything that Divine Providence might offer to do. I should like to give them my blood for the glory of our Lord, if my blood were of any value.” (Letters Vol. 3, 1333)
Fr. Vito Nardin IC (Provost General)
Fr Vito Nardin is the Provost General of the Institute of Charity.
His office with the General Council is based in Italy.
You can find out more here
“Rosmini was a great man, too little known today. He was a man of great learning and wisdom… His thinking and spirit ought to be made known and imitated, and perhaps he himself should be invoked as a protector in heaven. We look forward eagerly to the day when that will happen”.

Pope Paul VI in 1972:

"In your ecclesial activity, I invite you to carry out your works of corporal, intellectual, spiritual and pastoral charity in such a way as to always follow the Holy Spirit who indicates where, when, and how to love. As far as educational action is concerned, it is not limited to simple instruction, but it is intellectual charity. Indeed, the living centre of Christian education is the science that is transmitted starting from the Word of God, whose fullness is Jesus
Christ, the Word made flesh. Your apostolic presence has radiated in India, Tanzania and Kenya, as well as in the United States of America and Europe: I encourage you to be men with hands always outstretched to the suffering, to bring them the help of the faith and charity. I think in particular of your confreres and the Rosminian Sisters who work in Venezuela, called to witness spiritual and material closeness to the sorely tried people."
Pope Francis: 2018 General Chapter
PARISH AND COMMUNITY LOCATIONS
Three members of the Institute of Charity arrived in England. In 1847 the order was asked to take charge of Newport, and in 1854 it also took charge of Cardiff. Background St Peter's Parish, Roath, Cardiff is one of the oldest Catholic parishes. The Rosminian Fathers responded to Bishop Browns plea to send some priests from Newport (begun in 1847) to Cardiff in 1854. All of Cardiff and surrounds were entrusted to the Rosminians. They were the priests until 1885 or so. In 1881 there were 10,000 Catholics in Cardiff, one third of the population. Fr Fortunatus Signini was keen to build St Peters 1854 to 1862. Fr Stephen Bruno spent all his priestly ministry in Cardiff. Fr Gastaldi and Fr Costa joined them. Fr Signini put all his efforts into building Catholic Schools. From street collections among Catholics he was able to begin schools and then develop other parishes such as St Patricks and St Marys. Three Rosminian Sisters arrive in 1856 and looked after their first school in David Street. The beginning of a long successful mission to many schools in Cardiff. The Parish of St Peter's today is a thriving community, truly international in membership. Being very central to the city it ministers to an established older community as well as a younger student group and young families, many of whom have come from overseas. It has devotional groups, charitable outreach through the St Vincent de Paul and Justice group, musicians, singers, altar servers, the St Peter's Rugby Club, scouts and brownies. The Parish Council has oversight of various activities. For the year 2000 an enhanced peal of bells was installed and a full redecoration of the interior of the church. More recently, 2006, a new Swiss Spath organ was donated. In 2007 many parishioners formed a group to travel to Novara, Italy for the Beatification of Father Antonio Rosmini. 2010 saw the 150th Anniversary of the first Mass at St Peters. In 2020 the Citizen's group was influential in assisting a Syrian refugee family to settle in the city. The Rosminian community comprises four members. Parish Priests Fr. Chris Fuse, Fr. Aji Alphonse, Fr. Michael McCarthy, Fr. Jim McKnight Deacon Mike Randell St Peters Catholic Church St. Peter's Presbytery, St Peter's Street, Roath, Cardiff, CF24 3BA https://stpeters-roath.co.uk/
St Mary's Community House, Derryswood, is home to our senior Rosminians and is located in Wonersh, Guildford. Resident Priests Please write to Fr. David Myers. St Mary's Derryswood, Wonersh, Guildford.
The Rosmini Centre House of Prayer is situated in Leicestershire, attached to the great Rosminian College known as Ratcliffe College. The essential purpose of the Centre is to be a place of prayer and a sign of love of God and neighbour, through various activities of spiritual, intellectual, and temporal charity. We live a life of prayer and encourage others to enter into the beauty of prayer. We search without ceasing for all truth, knowing that through it we shall be led to the Truth, the second Person of the Blessed Trinity, and to the Father and the Holy Spirit Community Priests and Brothers Fr. Anthony Meredith, Fr, Phillip Sainter, Fr Ted Mullen, Fr David Tobin, Fr. Anthony Furlong, Brothers Nigel Cave and William Rees. The Rosminian Center 433 Fosse Way, Ratcliffe-on-the-Wreake, Leicester Leicestershire, LE7 4SJ https://www.rosminicentre.co.uk/
St Etheldreda’s Church was the town chapel of the Bishops of Ely from about 1250 to 1570. It is the oldest Catholic church in England and one of only two remaining buildings in London from the reign of Edward I. It was once one of the most influential places in London with a palace of vast grounds. It was like an independent state, the Bishop of Ely’s place in London or Ely Place as it is now called, and its chapel took its name from one of England’s most popular saints of the day, Etheldreda. In 1829, the Catholic Emancipation Act was passed and for the first time for 300 years it was no longer illegal for Catholics to have churches and say mass. In June of 1835, three Italian priests arrived at Tilbury. They were members of the Institute of Charity, founded by Antonio Rosmini, and later to become known as Rosminians. They introduced into England a new form of clerical dress, the Roman collar or dog collar. The Rosminians had worked very successfully in the Nottingham and Leicester areas and later in North London. The Rector of the North London Mission was Father William Lockhart, an Oxford convert and friend of the man who was to become the great English Cardinal, John Henry Newman; and it was Lockhart’s conversion that finally convinced Newman that he too should become a Catholic. The then Cardinal, Henry Manning, wished the Rosminians to serve in the slum areas of Holborn. Father Lockhart was chosen for this task. And in December 1873, he learned that the ancient Chapel of St Etheldreda’s was about to be sold by auction. Father Lockhart faced competition from the Welsh Episcopalians, who had the backing of a Welsh steel magnate. But at the auction, the Welshmen made a mistake. They thought Father Lockhart’s agent was theirs, so they stopped bidding. And with the next bid of £5,400 St Etheldreda’s was knocked down to the Rosminians. Parish Priests Fr. Fr Tom Deidun IC St Etheldreda's Catholic Church St Etheldreda's Church, 14 Ely Place, London, EC1N 6RY http://www.stetheldreda.com/
In 1835 the first missionaries came to England, and the first priest came to St. Theresa’s parish in 1938. We are part of a Rosminian cluster of parishes and schools here in the English midlands, and we regularly come together to share the ideals of the Institute of Charity. Lay people are welcome to become Ascribed members of the Institute, linking their lives and work and prayer with the Sisters and Fathers and Brothers. Parish Priests Fr. Tom Thomas and Fr. Ted Mullins St Theresa's Catholic Church The Presbytery, 53 Front Street, Birstall, Leicester LE4 4DQ https://st-theresa-sacredheart.co.uk/
OIn 1847 the order was asked to take charge of Newport, and in 1854 it also took charge of Cardiff. Parish Priest Parish Priest: Father Brian Cuddihy I.C St Patrick's Catholic Church Newport 151, Cromwell Road, Newport, NP19 0HS, South Wales. http://www.stpatricksnewport.org.uk/
Our parish is administered by the Institute of Charity (The Rosminians). The Rosminians were founded by an Italian priest, Blessed Antonio Rosmini, in 1828. Only seven years later he sent one of his earliest followers with two companions to England at the request of Bishop Baines, Vicar of the Western District. In 1847 the order was asked to take charge of Newport, and in 1854 it also took charge of Cardiff Parish Priest Fr. Brian Cuddihy IC St Patrick's Catholic Church Newport 151, Cromwell Road, Newport, NP19 0HS, South Wales. http://www.stpatricksnewport.org.uk/
Although the town of Loughborough has had a resident Catholic Priest from as early as 1824, it was not until 1841, that the then Bishop Walsh handed over the parish mission to the care of the Rosminians under the pastoral care of Fr. J Pagani. The mission benefited enormously from the care provided by the community, and for many years later St Marys was the most important centre of the institute of Charity in the country. The High Altar, and the Altar of Our Lady Queen of Peace are the work of Finelli Figli of Pietrasanta. The marble bronze work is of a richness very unusual in a provincial church in this country. St Mary's is now a grade 2 listed building. Parish Priests Fr. Paul Gillham IC - Fr. Simon Giles IC - Fr. David Jones IC, St Marys Catholic Church 97 Ashby Rd, Loughborough , LE11 3AB http://www.stmarysloughborough.org.uk/
St Peter's (the oldest Catholic Church in Cardiff) is served by the Rosminians (officially known as the Institute of Charity). The order was founded by an Italian priest, Antonio Rosmini in 1828. Only seven years later (1835), at the request of Bishop Baines (Vicar of the Western District) he sent one of his earliest followers with two companions to England. Three members of the Institute of Charity arrived in England. In 1847 the order was asked to take charge of Newport, and in 1854 it also took charge of Cardiff. At the present time the Institute of Charity cares for three parishes in Cardiff - Saint Peter’s, Saint Alban’s and Saint Joseph’s. St Peter's foundation stone was laid on the 20th August The Church was designed by Charles Hanson of Bristol, the Builder was John Webb and Son of Birmingham. Parish Priests Fr. Chris Fuse, Fr. Aji Alphonse, Fr. Michael McCarthy, Fr. Jim McKnight Deacon Mike Randell St Peters Catholic Church St. Peter's Presbytery, St Peter's Street, Roath, Cardiff, CF24 3BA https://stpeters-roath.co.uk/
Our parish is served by the Rosminians (officially known as the Institute of Charity). The order was founded by an Italian priest, Antonio Rosmini in 1828. Only seven years later he sent one of his earliest followers with two companions to England at the request of Bishop Baines, Vicar of the Western District. In 1847 the order was asked to take charge of Newport, and in 1854 it also took charge of Cardiff. At the present time the Institute of Charity cares for three parishes in Cardiff - Saint Peter’s, Saint Alban’s and Saint Joseph’s. St Joseph’s was founded on the 1st of June 1913. Parish Priest: Fr. Justus Okibo IC, Fr. Philip Scanlon Brother Brian Butler I.C. Deacon Mark Howe St Joseph's Catholic Church New Zealand Road, Gabalfa, Cardiff, CF14 3BR https://www.saintjosephs.org.uk/
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
USEFUL LINKS
CONTACT US
Office of the Provincial
St. Peters Church
St Peter's St
Roath,
Cardiff
CF24 3BA
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