About the Institute
Serving the Church with beauty and reverence since 1990
Veritatem Facientes in Caritate
The Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest (Institutum Christi Regis Summi Sacerdotis) is a Society of Apostolic Life of Pontifical Right within the Catholic Church. It was founded on the Feast of All Saints, 1 November 1990, in Gabon, Africa, by Monsignor Gilles Wach and Canon Philippe Mora.
The Institute's motto, “Veritatem facientes in caritate” (“Doing the truth in charity”, Ephesians 4:15), expresses its core charism: proclaiming the truth of the Catholic faith through beauty, reverence and charity.
Erected as a Society of Pontifical Right by the Holy See in 2008, the Institute is headquartered at its motherhouse and international seminary in the Villa Martelli, Gricigliano, near Florence, Italy.
Three Pillars of the Institute
The Honour of God
The primary end of the Institute is the glory and honour of God through the worthy celebration of the sacred liturgy, which is the summit and source of the life of the Church.
Sanctification of Priests
Through a thorough formation in philosophy, theology, liturgy, sacred music and the arts, the Institute forms priests who are deeply rooted in the Catholic tradition and devoted to their sacred ministry.
Spreading the Traditional Liturgy
The Institute is dedicated to making the treasures of the Church's liturgical heritage available to the faithful throughout the world, fostering devotion, catechesis and the Christian life.
The International Seminary
The Institute's international seminary is located at the Villa Martelli in Gricigliano, a historic estate in the hills outside Florence, Italy. Here, seminarians from around the world receive a comprehensive six-year formation in the Catholic intellectual and spiritual tradition.
The curriculum encompasses the classical studies: philosophy (following the Thomistic tradition), dogmatic and moral theology, Sacred Scripture, canon law, Church history, and the liturgical sciences. Particular emphasis is placed on sacred music — including Gregorian chant and polyphony — as well as sacred art and architecture.
Seminarians are formed not only intellectually but also spiritually, through a rich life of prayer centred on the daily celebration of the traditional Roman liturgy, the Divine Office, and personal devotion. This integral formation prepares priests who are deeply cultured, profoundly devout, and zealously apostolic.
The Sister Adorers
The Sisters Adorers of the Royal Heart of Jesus Christ Sovereign Priest are the contemplative branch of the Institute. Founded in 2001, they share the same charism of honouring God through the beauty of the sacred liturgy and the devoted practice of the Catholic faith.
Today, over 60 sisters live in nine convents across Europe and the United States. Their life is centred on Eucharistic adoration, the chanting of the Divine Office, and works of charity — including the making of vestments, altar linens and sacred art for the Institute's apostolates.
In Ireland, the sisters are present in Ardee, County Louth, where they established the House of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary in 2021. Their contemplative presence is a spiritual anchor for the Institute's mission on the island.
Our Journey on the Island
From a single Sunday Mass in Galway to a thriving apostolate across four locations, the Institute's presence in Ireland has grown steadily through the generosity of the faithful.
First Mass in Limerick
The Institute celebrated its first Mass in Limerick at the Dominican Church, marking the beginning of a regular apostolate in the city. This early presence laid the groundwork for a permanent foundation.
Galway Apostolate Established
A Sunday apostolate was established in Galway at St. Mary's College Chapel, where Mass continues to be offered every Sunday at 3:00pm. This was the Institute's first stable presence in Ireland.
Sacred Heart Church, Limerick
The Institute acquired the Sacred Heart Church in Limerick — a magnificent church built by the Jesuits in 1868, featuring 22 types of marble and a splendid high altar. An extensive programme of restoration has been underway since, returning the church to its original glory.
Belfast — Immaculate Heart of Mary
The Institute was entrusted with the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Belfast, which has become the principal apostolate in Ireland with a full schedule of daily Masses, confessions, devotions and a vibrant parish life.
Ardee Convent Founded
The Sisters Adorers of the Royal Heart of Jesus established the House of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary in Ardee, County Louth, bringing a contemplative religious presence to the area and enriching the Institute's mission in Ireland.
The Coat of Arms
The Institute's coat of arms bears a rich symbolism rooted in Catholic tradition. The shield is surmounted by a royal crown, signifying the Kingship of Christ — Christus Rex — under whose sovereignty the Institute places all its works.
The central motif features the Sacred Heart of Jesus, surrounded by elements drawn from the Institute's patron saints and devotions: the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Francis de Sales (the patron of the Institute) and St. Benedict.
The colours of the arms — burgundy and gold — reflect the regal dignity of the sacred liturgy, while the motto “Veritatem facientes in caritate” is inscribed on the ribbon below.
The Traditional Roman Rite
The Institute is dedicated to the celebration of the traditional form of the Roman rite — the Mass of the Ages, handed down through the centuries. This ancient liturgy, with its sacred music, Gregorian chant, beautiful vestments and profound theological richness, draws the faithful into the mystery of Christ's sacrifice on Calvary.
Through the beauty of sacred art, architecture and music, the traditional liturgy speaks to the heart and lifts the soul to God — making visible the invisible realities of our faith. It is, as the Second Vatican Council taught, the “summit toward which the activity of the Church is directed” and the “font from which all her power flows.”
The Institute celebrates not only the Holy Mass but also the full cycle of the Church's liturgical life: Vespers, Benediction, Tenebrae, processions, and the solemn rites of Holy Week — preserving and transmitting the treasury of the Roman liturgical tradition for future generations.
The Institute in Ireland Today
The Pro-Provincial for Ireland is Canon Wulfran Lebocq, who also serves as rector of the Sacred Heart Church in Limerick. Under his leadership, the Institute continues to grow in Ireland — serving the faithful in Limerick, Belfast, Ardee and Galway with the traditional sacraments, devotions and pastoral care.
The Institute's apostolate in Ireland encompasses the full range of priestly ministry: the daily celebration of the traditional Mass and sacraments, religious instruction for children and adults, home visits to the sick and elderly, and the fostering of a vibrant community life centred on the parish church.
“The beauty of the liturgy is a powerful means of evangelisation.”— Pope Benedict XVI