DOING WHAT THE CHURCH WANTS

WHO ARE THE SOCIETY OF HOLY SOULS?

The society of the Holy Souls in Purgatory is a Roman Catholic clerical and lay faithful society of apostolic life whose primary Apostolate is to pray for the dead and souls in purgatory through the powerful intercession of our Blessed Virgin Mary to our Lord Jesus Christ who is present in the Blessed Sacrament. Caring for the vulnerable persons, refugees, mentally unstable especially those that has been influenced by drugs. Converting lost souls to God, so as to avoid purgatory or eternal hell. In other to achieve our aim, Purgatorians conduct retreats and conferences which will enlighten the people on the need to pray for the souls in purgatory, with an emphasis on the Sacraments of the Holy Eucharist and Confession.

The priest members of the Society are incorporated into it by oath of permanent membership. Members undertake the observance of evangelical counsels of Chastity, evangelical poverty (simplicity of life) and obedience in imitation of Christ. Living as a community, the members carry out in a special way, the missionary mandate and commitment of Catholic Church where the church most need them.

At the Holy Souls Society, we believe in developing the whole man, body and soul, to make him the Soldier of Christ he’s called to be.

Purgatorians strives to foster a strong fraternal community life which integrates in the individual man a well-founded balance of prayer, work and recreation. We believe in giving our men a solid formation rooted in sound human, spiritual, intellectual and sacrificial principles. A man accepted into the Holy Souls seeks to become Christ’s instrument in the work of selfless sacrifice and administering the Sacraments.
One thing with us is that we always desire to serve God and our fellow human beings and to respect our differences. And most especially doing what the church wants.

We are involved in primary evangelisation and revitalization of weak churches. We also engage in schools, hospital for mentally unstable, social justice, education and care of the poor.

STAGES OF FORMATION

1. Postulancy
The purpose of postulancy is to be a period of preparation for spiritual year during which the Society and the postulant have an opportunity to get to know each other. Consequently, the postulant and the community begin a process of mutual discernment as to whether the Saviour is calling the postulant to Purgatorian apostolic life. In order to assist the postulant and the community in this discernment, the postulant receives basic instruction in the Society's origins, history, and way of life. The postulant also receives instruction and participates in programs and activities that help him to progress in his human, intellectual, and Christian formation. Additionally, the postulant begins formal Purgatorian formation by developing his capacity to live in community and to have some experience of apostolic ministry. This stage of formation usually last for one year.

2. Spiritual Year
The aim of this time is to develop a relationship of deep communion and friendship with Jesus. In this time they receive the benefit of a catechesis that is deeper than the teaching he gives to the people (cf Mt. 13:11); also he wishes them to be witnesses of his silent prayer to the Father (cf. Jn 17:1-26; Lk. 22:39-45)" (Pastores Dabo Vobis 42).

Its pillars are built on -
Prayer:
Time spent before the Blessed Sacrament is central to the year - time when each man can encounter the living presence of Jesus in profound silence. This encounter flows from and leads back to the celebration of the Holy Mass and is supported by recitation of the Divine Office, teachings on prayer from the Catechism and from great spiritual masters.

Community Life:
The seminarians pray, study, work and recreate together - growing in self-knowledge, forming friendships and growing in the mutual sense of being called to share in Christ's call and mission. Of special note shall be media fast. As a sign of turning from the world and toward Christ, men in the Spirituality Year give up the use of phones, television, computers, popular media and other electronic devices. (On Saturdays they are allowed access to these - so that they may stay connected to family and friends to a reasonable degree). A new freedom is invariably experienced, as well as a stilling of one's heart.

Intellectual Life:
The type of study involved in this year is transformative. Hours are spent in the classroom, where Sacred Scripture, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the great spiritual classics, the Documents of Vatican II and the Church's teachings on the nature of priesthood are explored.

Why Spiritual year in the life of Purgatorans?
.To develop students general attitude to religion and put them in path of conversion and of personal touch with Christ and the B.V.M
• To encourage the study of the Holy Scriptures
• To initiate the candidate into the art of self discovery and the discernment of their own vocation
• To encourage industry, love for learning and the pursuit of excellence
• To promote the spirit of charity and self sacrifice among them
• To develop team spirit among themselves through shared labor and other responsibilities
• To teach students to say properly basic prayers and instill in them competence and confidence
• To help them serve at mass, benedictions and assist in the other sacraments
• To encourage the knowledge of basic catechism among priestly candidates
• To up-grade the level of discipline in them by reawakening natural virtues and the African sense of culture like the traditional respect for one's elder, the sense of community and sharing, etc
• To curb the outwardness and noise of the society in the formation of them as seminarians.
• To spot out characters which are clearly incompatible with priestly discipline

Reasons for a Spiritual Year Seminary• 
.Production of disillusioned priestly candidates who are mature enough to take the bold step of furthering into the major seminary
• Development of the culture of openness and sincerity among seminarians
• Recruitment of enthusiastic candidates for the Priesthood in our society who have a deep sense of religion, love for service and for the people of God
• Creation of a formation atmosphere which can produce people that would think like Christ, speak like Christ and act like Christ in all situations, and would always prize Christ and the ministry above all else.

This period usually last for one year.