Servants of Jesus and Mary

The Servants of Jesus and Mary is a Roman Catholic congregation founded in 1988 by Andreas Hönisch, a former Jesuit expelled for his Traditionalist Catholic views. Its first members came from the German Catholic Scouts of Europe, established in Giessen in 1976. The congregation focuses on pastoral care for European scout groups and youth work. Priests were initially trained at seminaries in Germany but now have their own seminary in Blindenmarkt in Lower Austria. The congregation was recognised as a Congregation of Papal Law by Cardinal Antonio Innocenti on 16 July 1994. It is attached to the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei and aims to revive pre-conciliar traditions of the Society of Jesus. The Servants of Jesus and Mary celebrate the Tridentine Mass while also using the current missal of Pope Paul VI. Since 2014, Paul Schindele has led the congregation. Visitors to Blindenmarkt find a seminary where priests are trained according to the congregation’s traditions. The building reflects the congregation’s focus on education and youth work. Nearby, the rural setting of Lower Austria provides a quiet environment for reflection and study. The congregation’s presence in the region supports its mission of pastoral care and spiritual formation.