Lay Association

Many religious Congregations and Institutes have lay Associates. While the Jesuits do not formally have lay Associates, the following documents relate to Association between lay persons and the Society of Jesus (The Jesuits):

Collaboration at the Heart of Mission
(35th General Congregation, Decree 6) 2008

Cooperation with the Laity in Mission
(General Congregation 34, Decree 13) 1995
A reading of the signs of the times since the Second Vatican Council shows unmistakably that the Church of the next millennium will be called the “Church of the Laity.”

The Relationship of the Society to the Laity and their Apostolate
(General Congregation 31, Decree 33)
In its teaching and decrees the Second Vatican Council stressed the just autonomy of earthly affairs, the secular character which is proper and peculiar to the laity, the active part they ought to take in the entire life of the Church, and their duty and right to the exercise of the apostolate. These demand that our Society examine the relationship it has to laymen and their apostolate and that it bring this relationship into greater harmony with the norms and spirit of the Council itself.

Laymen Linked to the Society by a Closer Bond
(General Congregation 31, Decree 34)
The 31st General Congregation urges Father General to study the ways by which such bonds and a more stable and intimate collaboration can be achieved, taking into consideration the experiences of different parts of the world.

Letter regarding Jesuit Lay Association, from Father Kovenbach (1989/24)
This letter to the Provincials from Father General Kolvenbach in 1989 follows upon Decree 34 from the 31st General Congregation (1966).

Letter to Friends and Colleagues of the Society, 1991 (PDF)
The Superior General sent this letter directly to friends of the Society during the Anniversary year, which commemorated the 500th Anniversary of Papal approval for the Society of Jesus.

Letter on “juridical bonding” (1999/04)
This Letter to Major Superiors (Provincials) from Father Kolvenbach provides guidelines for the Provincials.

Letter on Lay Association (2003/08)
Written to Major Superiors, this letter from Father Kolvenbach describes criteria for apostolic availability, for entering into a juridical bond with a Provincial.

Jesuits and Lay Partners: Cooperating with Each Other in Mission (PDF)
Major address by Fr. Kovenbach the evening of October 7, 2004