Society of Christ Province of the Holy Family

211 Goyder Street, Tel: (02) 6295 2603 Narrabundah ACT 2604 Australia Mobile: 0407 269 633 Email: [email protected]

01.01.14.

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN,

I, Rev. Fr. Przemyslaw S. Karasiuk S.Chr., am Provincial Superior in the Province of the Holy Family in Australia and New Zealand.

In my position as Provincial Superior, I have direct knowledge of the governing structure of the Society of Christ; the following details the governing structure.

The Roman Catholic Church was founded in 4 AD with the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. During the time Jesus Christ was on earth, he chose 12 men to be his apostles. It was to these apostles that Jesus would eventually entrust the work of his mission after his death and resurrection. Jesus named the apostle Peter as the head of his Church on earth. Since that time all Roman Catholic Popes have been considered the direct successors of Saint Peter the Apostle. Just as Saint Peter was, the Popes are responsible for all activities including the governing of the Roman Catholic Church on earth.

The Roman Catholic Church also recognises various holy persons that have been canonised and elevated to the level of sainthood. During their lifetimes, many of these saints have been responsible for establishing religious orders with the approval and blessing of the Pope. One such Roman Catholic religious order is the Society of Christ. As with all religious orders, the Society of Christ follows the teaching of the Roman Catholic Pope, John Paul II.

While all religious orders follow the teaching of the Pope and are governed by the Canon Law of the Roman Catholic Church and the proclamations and decrees issued by the Pope, each religious order also has a specific priest in charge of its day to day government and operation. This person is most often called the Superior General. He is responsible for making sure that the Pope's decrees are followed and that the Order maintains the original mission of the saint who founded the order.

Sometimes a religious order is divided into provinces. The Superior General will then usually designate other priests to govern the various provinces. These priests are called Provincials, and they are responsible for the specific province to which they are assigned.

This form of governing allows for the smooth and efficient functioning of the Roman Catholic Church throughout the world.

The Society of Christ is a Roman Catholic religious order. As such, it follows the teaching and decrees of Pope John Paul II. The Society of Christ was founded in Poland. Its Superior General resides in Poland and oversees all the work and administration of the Order throughout the world.

In order to be better managed, the Society of Christ is divided into specific provinces. The province of the Holy Family includes Australia and New Zealand. Father Tadeusz PRZYBYLAK is the current Provincial Superior of the Province of the Holy Family in Australia and New Zealand. As such, his responsibility is to oversee the work of the members of the Order and the mission of the Society of Christ throughout all the States of Australia and New Zealand. Father Tadeusz PRZYBYLAK reports directly to the Superior General of the Society of Christ in Poland, who in turn reports to the Vatican at the Holy See.

"In the salvation work of the Church we, the members of the Society of Christ, participate in a particular way through the pastoral care of countrymen living outside of Poland, developing pastoral care among, and whenever possible also social and cultural care, joining also - if necessary - in other pastoral work of the local Church" (Section II: The goal of the institute - THE BYLAWS OF THE SOCIETY OF CHRIST).

The priests of the Society of Christ in the Province of the Holy Family in Australia and New Zealand take a pastoral care for the needs of the Polish immigrants in these countries. We serve them with pastoral ministry: celebrating Holy Masses, administrating all the Sacraments, visiting regularly sick people in their private homes and hospitals, visiting and caring for the aged people in Nursing Homes, Hospices; special care for youth in our communities (organising meetings and summer camps) especially disadvantage young people (counselling and material help, if necessary). Our goal is to see the spiritual, social and cultural needs of the Polish people and come to them with help and service.

The foregoing is a true and accurate description of the governing structure of the Roman Catholic religious order of the Society of Christ.

Rev. Fr. Przemyslaw S. KArasiuk S.Chr. PROVINCIAL SUPERIOR