História Miles Jesu

Miles Jesu was founded in Phoenix, Arizona, on January 12, 1964.

In the early 1960’s the „Cursillo“ (a retreat movement brought from Spain by Claretian missionary priests) was a vibrant source of spiritual awakening and renewal in the American southwest, changing the lives of thousands of people. Father Alphonsus Maria Duran was one of the first priests to bring the movement to the United States. A handful of young men, having made this kind of retreat in Phoenix, felt called to a life dedicated to Christ where their secular careers would become an authentic means of apostolate. They formed a community of fraternal life and prayer while continuing to work in their various jobs and professions. From this community evolved Miles Jesu—an institute of consecrated life whose members take vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience and whose charism is the sanctification of the laity.

Membership was opened to widows in 1970 and a few years after that, to young unmarried women, with separate branches established for men and for women, all under one General Director.

In response to the renewed emphasis on the universal call to sanctity that was so much a part of Vatican II, Miles Jesu makes some form of membership possible to all Catholics, with commitments and responsibilities that reflect the varying states of life (celibate with vows, married, diocesan priesthood, or single).

Miles Jesu has recently undergone a period of intense renewal including an Apostolic Visitation conducted by the Vicariate (local Bishop’s office) of Rome in conjunction with the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. This renewal placed  special attention on revising the Miles Jesu constitiutions and formation program. The new constitutions were approved by the Vicariate of Rome on December 8, 2012 and the new governing structure defined by them was put into place by a General Electoral Assembly in May, 2013. The current formation program was approved by the Vicariate of Rome in December, 2013.

Today Miles Jesu Domus communities (community houses of celibate members) are located in the United States (since 1964), India (1984), Spain (1985), Nigeria (1987), Italy (1988), Ukraine (1990), Poland (1991), and Slovakia (2004). Our General House is in Rome. In addition to these countries, the Miles Jesu is also active in Puerto Rico, the Czech Republic, England, and Austria.