Vatican concludes “reflection process” with bi-ritual congregation SJM.
The Vatican has formally concluded a multi-year reflection process involving the Servants of Jesus and Mary (SJM), a Catholic religious congregation in Austria, founded in 1988. The community celebrates both the Novus Ordo and the traditional Roman rite. It remains closely associated with the Catholic Scouts of Europe (KPE).
The Vatican’s process began in late 2022, when it appointed former abbot Raimund Schreier as Apostolic Assistant. His task was to “accompany” the SJM for a period originally planned to last three years.
The community examined its history, internal structures, self-understanding and its founder, former Jesuit Andreas Hönisch.
In June, the community and the Apostolic Assistant submitted the relevant documents to the Vatican’s Dicastery for Religious. It has now declared the process concluded.
According to the SJM, the dicastery encouraged the congregation to:
- “continue promoting an open culture of mutual feedback”;
- foster “transparent and clearly structured communication”;
- maintain “good relations with local bishops” [and vice versa?];
- strengthen teamwork in its apostolates and further develop its missionary pastoral work.
The process also addressed the congregation’s early history. In an interim report published in 2025, the SJM claimed “serious mistakes” during its early years, without detailing any incidents.
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