Paulist Fathers
a modern American society in the Roman Catholic Church, founded in New York by the late Rev. Isaac T. Hecker, in 1858. It is composed of priests who are engaged in missionary and literary work. In their work they adopt methods suitable to the customs of the United States, but foreign to those of the Catholic Church in general. By this they have brought upon themselves severe criticism from conservative members of the church in Europe, and are accused of a desire to build up an American church. Their distinctive work is the endeavor to reach non-Catholics, and so they hold their meetings in the open air, or in school houses and town halls in preference to a church; they also use congregational singing, and hymns of the Protestant church. They have a printing plant of their own and conduct a monthly magazine called the "Catholic World."