Our History
Born in Renewal • Rooted in Charity • Sent on Mission
A Congregation Born of Renewal
The Clerics Regular of Somasca, known as the Somascan Fathers, emerged from the great Catholic renewal of the sixteenth century. Founded in 1532 by Saint Jerome Emiliani, the Somascans responded to the urgent spiritual and social needs of their time through charity, education, and evangelization.
The Spirit of the Clerics Regular
The Somascans embodied a new model of religious life — combining the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience with active pastoral ministry among the poor, sick, and abandoned. Their radical poverty and trust in Divine Providence distinguished their apostolate.
Influence of the Oratory of Divine Love
Like other religious Orders born in the sixteenth century, the Somascans were deeply influenced by the Oratory of Divine Love, which emphasized inner renewal through prayer, the sacraments, and works of mercy.
The First Chapter of the Straw Mats (1532)
In Merone, Saint Jerome Emiliani gathered priests and laymen on straw mats to discern God’s will. From this humble assembly arose the “Company of the Servants of the Poor,” bearing the motto: “My Burden is Light.”
Why the Name “Somasca”?
The village of Somasca became the spiritual cradle of the Congregation. There, Jerome and his companions found a place of prayer, formation, and missionary expansion.
Stability and Growth
By 1534, the Congregation adopted stable regulations rooted in prayer, poverty, preaching, and total trust in Divine Providence, guided by the ideal of Ora et Labora.
Papal Recognition
Approved by Pope Paul III in 1540 and formally named the Order of the Clerics Regular of Somasca in 1568, the Somascans received the full blessing of the Church for their mission.
Global Mission of the Somascan Fathers
From Italy, the Somascans spread across Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Africa — serving youth, the poor, and the abandoned in diverse cultures.
Where We Serve Today
Explore the countries where the Somascan Fathers carry out their mission.
A Living Legacy
Today, the Somascan Fathers continue the dream of Saint Jerome Emiliani — to restore dignity to the poor and abandoned through faith, education, and charity.