The Society of Saint Paul is a religious Congregation of Priests and Brothers founded by Blessed James Alberione in 1914 at Alba, Italy. The Society of St Paul is the first branch of the Pauline Family that consists of five religious congregations (Society of St Paul, Daughters of St Paul, Pious Disciples of the Divine Master, Sisters of Jesus the Good Shepherd, Sisters of Mary Queen of Apostles), four Secular Unions (Union of our Lady of Annunciation, Union of St Gabriel the Archangel, Union of the Holy Family, Union of Jesus the Priest) and the Association of Pauline Cooperators.

It was in the night that divided the 19th century from the 20th that Alberione, a young seminarian, received a particular light to do something for the people of the new century. He felt obliged to serve the Church and to work with others in an organized way. That inspiration was vital for the specific mission and spirit of the Pauline Family. At first he thought of a Catholic organization of writers, technicians, propagandists to whom he would give direction, work and spirit. But towards 1910, in a greater light, he became convinced that these writers, technicians and propagandists should be men and women religious. This inspiration from the Lord became a concrete realization on 20th August 1914 amidst the destructions and calamities of the First World War. Mons. Giuseppe Re, the Bishop of Alba, erected the Society of St Paul as a Congregation with Diocesan Approval on 3rd December 1927. The Holy See officially approved the Congregation on 27th June 1949. 

The Society of St Paul was born with the specific charism to spread Christian message and values through the means of communication. Fr Alberione began the Typography School of Little Workers (later on Society of St Paul) with a few boys (first vocations to the Society of St Paul) and a small printing machine.

The apostolate that was known at the beginning as apostolate of the press grew to become publishing apostolate. As time went by, it became apostolate of the editions that includes audio video products and the use of the latest and fastest means of communication. Printing press, radioTV station and cinema production houses became part of the apostolate of the Society of St Paul.

The Society of St Paul has a specific spirituality based on Jesus Master, Way, Truth and Life (cf. Jn 14:6). Fr Alberione presents this spirituality as an integral method that helps the integral growth of every Pauline and everyone who lives by this devotion. In the Society of St Paul, Mary is venerated under the title Queen of Apostles. The spirit of the Congregation and of every member comes from St Paul. Fr Alberione considers St Paul as Patron, Protector, Model, Teacher, Father and Founder of the Congregation. 

The Congregation that had a humble beginning at Alba started to spread in Italy and to the other parts of the world. At present, the Society of St Paul is present in 42 countries spread through all the continents.

Two Italian missionaries came to India in 1935 to sow the seeds of the Society of St Paul. In 1939 Bishop Poli of Allahabad officially admitted the Paulines into his Diocese. Today, Indian Province consists of three countries (India, Great Britain and Ireland) with 18 communities (15 in India, two in UK and one in Ireland). We have in India a printing press, a publishing house with two imprints (ST PAULS and BETTER YOURSELF BOOKS), a multimedia division, five parishes, two Media Institutes (ST PAULS COLLEGE, Bengaluru and ST PAULS Institute of Communication  Education, Mumbai) 19 Book Stores (ST PAULS Books and Art Centre) as part of our apostolic activities.

CRI - Bringing Together Religious Communities Across India for a Shared Mission.