Origins and Foundation

The Fraternity was founded on 18 July 1988 in the Abbey of Hauterive (Switzerland), where twelve priests and twenty seminarians chose to remain in full communion with the Holy Father and the Church, while preserving the traditional liturgy and discipline. Pope John Paul II approved the foundation and erected the Fraternity canonically. Its constitutions were definitively approved on 29 June 2003.

Summorum Pontificum

In 2007, Pope Benedict XVI declared in his motu proprio Summorum Pontificum that the Roman liturgy of 1962 had never been abolished and could be freely celebrated throughout the Church. He referred to this liturgy as the “extraordinary form of the Roman Rite” (usus antiquior). This greatly strengthened the apostolate of the FssP worldwide.

Traditionis Custodes

In July 2021, Pope Francis issued the motu proprio Traditionis Custodes, placing the use of the 1962 liturgical books under the authority of diocesan bishops. Shortly thereafter, he clarified that the FssP may fully retain its own charism and continue celebrating the traditional liturgy in its churches and oratories. This special permission was explicitly reaffirmed in 2022 and again in 2024.

Canonical Status and Mission

The FssP is recognised by the Holy See as a society of apostolic life of pontifical right. Its mission is the sanctification of priests through prayer, study, and community life, and the pastoral care of the faithful through dignified liturgy, catechesis, and sacramental ministry. Its apostolate includes parish work, chaplaincies, youth ministry, catechesis, hospital visitation, and pastoral accompaniment.

Liturgy and Sacraments

The priests of the Fraternity celebrate the Holy Mass and the sacraments according to the liturgical books of 1962. Mass is offered ad orientem, in Latin, with Gregorian chant as its proper music. The liturgy is marked by reverence, silence, and a strong emphasis on the sacrificial nature of the Mass.

Spirituality

The spirituality of the FssP is rooted in the Catholic tradition: daily Latin Mass, the Divine Office, Eucharistic and Marian devotions, fidelity to the Magisterium, and the study of St Thomas Aquinas and the classical spiritual authors. Although not religious, the priests live a real community life.

Seminaries and Formation

The Fraternity maintains two international seminaries: St Peter’s Seminary in Wigratzbad (Germany) and the Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary in Denton, Nebraska (USA). The general headquarters is in Fribourg (Switzerland). The seven-year formation includes philosophy, theology, liturgy, spiritual formation, and pastoral training.

Structure and Worldwide Presence

The FssP serves in more than 150 dioceses worldwide. In the Benelux it is present in Belgium (Namur, Herstal, Brussels) and the Netherlands, and also serves other places in the region when requested.

The FssP in the Netherlands

The FssP established a community at St Agnes Church in Amsterdam in 2011. On 20 January 2013 the Bishop of Haarlem–Amsterdam erected the personal parish for the traditional Latin liturgy. From St Agnes, the Holy Mass and sacraments are offered daily according to the traditional Roman Rite. The community resides in the Bonifatiushuis next to the church.

Since late 2025, a second apostolate has been established in the Dutch town of Lobith (Archdiocese of Utrecht), in the church of Our Lady Immaculate Conception (H. Maria Onbevlekt Ontvangen). A new community is growing there around the traditional liturgy and the sacraments. Website: lobith.fssp.nl.

Father Martin Kromann Knudsen, FssP, is the pastor of St Agnes Church in Amsterdam. Read his biography: /pastoor/

Contact Information

St Peter’s Fraternity Foundation (Netherlands)
Amstelveenseweg 161
1075 XA Amsterdam
Tel.: +31 (0)20 662 9470
Email: fssp.nl@gmail.com

International website: fssp.org