This Association is a vocation for lay men and women, single or married, from all walks of life, who participate, live, and share the values of the Pauline Family: spirituality, mission and apostolate by evangelising using the means and media of social communication (books, audio and video materials, graphics, etc.). More than 2000 Pauline Cooperators are exercising their Pauline lives in many countries worldwide.
2017-2018 was the centenary year since the foundation of the Association of the Pauline Cooperators. The Pauline Family organised the first international encounter of the Pauline Cooperators in Rome on 18 - 27 May 2018, gathering hundreds of lay women and men from different corners of the world. This huge turnover demonstrated how deep the roots of the Pauline ministry have been in their lay branch. The discussions during the conferences, prayers, pilgrimage, and, of course, the grace of God convinced and energised everyone to go back home and engage even more in the footsteps of Saint Paul.
From that upliftment, the Association of the Pauline Cooperators was formally introduced in Durban - South Africa, with the Daughters of Saint Paul. Lay people were invited to participate in three important events to plant the seeds:
1st Meeting: Centenary of the Pauline Cooperators for the Gospel as celebrated in Rome.
Saturday 03 Nov. 2018, 10.00 - 12.00 am.
2nd Meeting: Introduction to the Pauline Spirituality
Saturday 01 Dec. 2018, 10.00 – 12.00 am.
3rd Meeting: Identity of the Pauline Cooperators for Gospel
Saturday, 26 Jan. 2019, 10.00 – 12.00 am.
The responses from these meetings set a continuous momentum for the lay branch of the Pauline Family in South Africa. Monthly formation meetings followed to help the participants deepen their knowledge and faith in the Pauline mission. Consequently, in 2020, the Johannesburg branch started to develop, where a group of lay people was invited to celebrate the feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul (25 Jan 2020) with the Pauline Sisters.
With the help of God, on 26 June 2021, four Pauline Cooperators from the Durban branch made their promises, becoming the first ever to do so in South Africa. In the same way, three others from the Johannesburg branch made their promises on 25 January 2022. Besides their commitment to formation and prayer, the Pauline Cooperators engage in various evangelisation initiatives with the Daughters of Saint Paul - "The Pauline Sisters". In 2023, one more candidate from the Johannesburg branch made her promise.
We pray that the Lord will send more women and men to join the Pauline mission.
God bless South Africa.