London

Church of Our Lady of Victories | 235a Kensington High Street | London | W8 6SA 

T 07561 456074 | london@pauline-uk.org

The Pauline Centre in the Vision of Fr James Alberione

Fr James Alberione, the founder of the Daughters of St Paul, had a very precise vision for the Centres as they were opened throughout the world. He wanted the Sisters, and laity who work within the Centres, to remember that the centres were not just business propositions, Yes, he agreed that they had to be run as a business for fiscal, financial and legal reasons but it was important to have a Pauline approach to being there. He re-imagined the business part and taught them the Pauline way to look at the Centres.

Our book centres are apostolate centres. The Gospel and the picture of Saint Paul testify to this. They are not shops, but a service to the faithful. Not sales, but apostolate through offerings. They do not have customers but cooperators.

They are not businesses; they are centres of light and fervour in Jesus Christ. The aim is not profit, but to serve the Church and people. Not to exploit people but to be of service to them. What the faithful and the clergy have to find here are help, enlightenment and direction for their ministry; not prices, but offerings (…) 

Fr James Alberione, 1960