Teresian Apostolic Movement

TAM has its origins in the Archconfraternity of the Daughters of Mary Immaculate and Teresa of Jesus founded in 1873 by St Henry de Ossó in Tortosa, Spain, for young women wishing to fully live their faith and bear witness to Christ in a changing society, besieged by the seeds of atheism and secularisation sown by the changes in the 19th century. 

Biographical Information

Founder: Company of St. Teresa of Jesus

Foundation: Created in Rome in 1977 with origins in the Archconfraternity of the daughters of Mary Immaculate and Teresa of Jesus

Ecclesial Recognition: Recognized on May 12, 1977 as an international association of the faithful of Pontifical Right by the Pontifical Council for the Laity.

Membership: Present in 21 countries: Africa (3), Asia (1), Europe (3), North America (6), and South America (8).

Membership: about 37,600 members
- male and female
- lay only

Organization

Lay/Religious: lay

Individual/Community: Friends of Jesus for boys and girls; Youths for teenagers and young people; Communities for adults.

Commitment/Vows:

Purpose and Activities

Overall Purpose: The movement sets out to stimulate its members to know and love Jesus and to make Him known and loved.

Apostolic commitments: The specific fields of the apostolate for members of the Movement are family, professional, social and political life, education, the parish and welfare works.

Marian Characteristics

Major Inspirations: TAM's charism comprises three dimensions: interiority, apostolic action and community.

General Marian Characteristics: Mary as Mother and model of virtue; the writings of St. Teresa of Jesus.

Spiritual\Devotional Exercises: Daily prayer, spiritual retreats and community prayer, liturgical participation, especially the Eucharist, meditation on the word of God; devotion to Mary as Mother and model of virtue, reading the writings of St. Teresa of Jesus.

Pastoral/Apostolic Endeavors: For children, initiation in the knowledge and love of Jesus; for youths, the practice of Christian virtues and the apostolate; for adults, doctrinal studies and apostolic commitment.

Sources

www.teresians.org

Directory of International Associations of the Faithful, Pontifical Council for the Laity, available at: http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/laity/documents/rc_pc_laity_doc_20051114_associazioni_en.html