In 1869, at the suggestion of Pope Pius IX, some young Roman nobles founded the ‘Circolo S. Pietro’: a meal facility for the very poorest.
Over the past century and a half, the 450 members of the Circolo have expanded their activities to include night shelters and homeless shelters, clothing distribution, volunteer work in hospitals, psychological and legal support, a hospice, and more. Under the motto “prayer, action, sacrifice,” the Circolo brightens the lives of tens of thousands of people each year.
One of the Circolo’s initiatives is the ‘Casa Famiglia’: family homes for poor families with children who have to stay in hospital for long periods.
As part of the Holy Year 2025, the Order will be organising an international pilgrimage to Rome on Saturday, October 25th, to affirm the Order’s spirit of service. Participation is not optional: each participant is required to financially support the work of the family homes.
A number of members of the Order will also participate in the pilgrimage on behalf of the Dutch delegation.
