The Apostolic Society of St Brigid is a community of clerics and lay members, men and women, gay and straight, single and partnered, living and working in many different parts of the United Kindom. Our mission is to follow the example of St Brigid of Kildare in practising the outrageous hospitality of God. We believe gender and sexual orienttion, along with race and class are not of ultimate concern to God and so we seek to serve God and the world by praying for all and offering the sacraments to anyone who seeks them. Members of the society do not take vows but promise to live a life of common prayer and ministry under the rule and constitution of the society. Members live their lives structured around regular prayer with the support of a community. The society is a powerhouse of prayer, praying for the needs of the world and witnessing to God's all embracing love. We join millions of Christians worldwide in saying the Divine Office and offering Mass every day for the needs of the world. Historically, since its foundation the society has had an affiliation, of one sort or another, with the Open Episcopal Church. However, in March 2006 the Chapter agreed to open our doors to members of any Catholic jurisdiction. Professed members, whether clerical or lay, need to be confirmed members of either a reputable Old Catholic or Independent Catholic jurisdiction or a member of the Roman Catholic or Orthodox Churches. Members of other denominations or faith communities are most welcome to share in our life of prayer and hospitality by becoming oblates. The spiritual patrons of the society are Our Lady, Queen of Heaven and St Michael the Archangel. The Motto of the society is pro amore, pro victoria et pro gloria Dei (for love, for vctory and for the glory of God) which according to arcane knowledge are the words used to summon angels.

       At the core of prayer life are the Eucharist and the Divine Office and all members in the clerical state are normally expected to say the Office daily and attend or celebrate the Eucharist daily. Those that live in priories should endeavour to pray and celebrate the Eucharist together. In common celebrations of the Eucharist the Mathew or Liberal Catholic Rite are often  used. On Fridays members may say the Celtic Eucharist. In private celebrations priest members are free to choose whichever Catholic rites their jurisdiction allows. When we celebrate the Eucharist we are conscious of being in the presence of God and the whole community of heaven. We feel a particular obligation to pray for those marginalized and rejected within our world and for the dead.

Members are also encouraged to pray the Angelus at the traditional times and to develop a rich devotional life. They should make regular use of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and have a spiritual director.

The society will hold weekend meetings several times a year and members are encouraged to attend these. The society celebrates the following feasts as solemnities:

The Feast of Our Holy Mother St Brigid of Kildare on 1 February

The Feast of Our Holy Patron St Michael on 29 September

The Feast of Our Lady Queen of Heaven on 22 August

The habit consists of a cassock or tunic, a white scapular and a white girdle. The cassock or tunic may be black or white for lay brothers and sisters. Clerics may wear black, white or any colour cassock appropriate to their rank and jurisdiction. Clerics must also wear a clerical collar. Scapulars for both clerical and lay members may be hooded or un-hooded and worn either with or without a white cloak. Members must wear their habits at liturgical functions and at society meetings. We encourage members to wear the habit at other times as a public witness of their vocation. The Prior and the Mother Founder wear a St Brigid’s cross over their habit. Members are encouraged to wear a small St Brigid’s cross when not in habit.

The warden is responsible for the formation of members. The  Prior has the discretion to receive members directly into Solemn profession if s/he is convinced of their suitability. However, the normal process of formation is as follows:

a) Noviciate. This first stage of membership lasts for a minimum of a year and a day after which the members of the major chapter will vote as to whether the novice may proceed to Solemn Profession. If there is any doubt as to the suitability of the novice then their noviciate may be extended for up to another twelve months. A novice may also ask for an extension of the noviciate if they are uncertain about Profession. A novice is free to leave the society at any time and the Society is free to dismiss a novice at any time.

c) Solemn Profession. Upon completion of the noviciate, if the member in consultation with their superior still believes that they have been called to a life long commitment to the society they may proceed to Solemn Profession. The promise is made within the context of the Mass and is made to the Prior using the following wording: ‘I Brother/Sister N of N promise to Almighty God, to the Blessed Virgin Mary, to our Holy Mother St Brigid, to St Michael the Archangel, and to you, Brother/Sister to observe all the days of my life the rule of the Apostolic Society of St Brigid, living in obedience to God and my superiors’.

If a member wishes to be released from their promise to the society they will make a request in writing to the Prior Release from the promise will only be given after a period of six months unless there are pressing pastoral reasons to release a member earlier.

e) Holy Orders.

Those joining us who wish to pursue Holy Orders may do so through the regularly established channels in the denomination or jurisdiction of their choice. If the brother or sister wishes to be ordained in a jurisdiction in which SSB plays a role then the Society through the Prior and the Warden will give him or her every encouragement and assistance. The  Prior must give their consent to any member of the society to receive Episcopal Consecration. In the event that it is the Prior themselves under consideration then the consent of the major chapter must be given. Members in Episcopal orders are ordinary members of the society and have no inherent privileges or responsibilities by virtue of their Episcopal consecration except that they may ordain those members of the society who are also members of the same denomination or jurisdiction. However, one member in Episcopal orders will serve as the Episcopal Chaplain to the Society. S/he will be appointed by the Major Chapter.

f) Continual Formation. Members are required to engage in continual formation through formal study, reading and attendance at society gatherings.

The primary mission of the Society is to follow the example of St Brigid of Kildare in practising an inclusive Catholicism both in its sacramental life and in its social commitments. We model ourselves on a woman who drew on traditions older than Christianity in order to better preach the gospel, who brought men and women together in a common life, who was not afraid to become involved in political and ecclesiastical disputes, who refused to be dictated to by Rome, who worked with angels to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, heal the earth and care for animals. We model ourselves on a woman who is widely believed to have been ordained a bishop. We therefore live out a generous, active and risky Catholicism.

The EC is a member of the society in Episcopal orders appointed by the Major Chapter for a period of five years. The appointment may be renewed. The EC advises the Prior on matters concerning the society. S/he may be asked to ordain (if the member in question is a member of the same denomination or jurisdiction) or intervene in matters of dispute

The Oblates of Saint Brigid, lay people who wish to support the society but do not feel called to become members may join the oblates, an organisation which seeks to support the society through prayer and material means. Members follow as much of the rule as they are able and at the discretion of local priors may attend community events and offices in local priories. At the discretion of the Prior they may attend but not vote in major and minor chapters. Oblates will be admitted by a community prior and will wear the cross of Saint Brigid. The Prior will delegate day to day running of the oblates to an oblate master who will be an oblate themselves and will be appointed for three years.

The oblate master will organise events and liturgies for oblates and an annual meeting. The oblates will have their own bank account managed by the master and a treasurer (who may not be the partner of the master). They will present an audited account to their annual meeting and to the major chapter.