The main aim of the Brotherhood is to help those who need it most. Consequently, the activity of the Albertine Brothers’ Congregation focuses mainly on creating, running and caring for institutions devoted to such selfless help. There are several institutions for homeless men. The newcomers can find there a night shelter, a hut, and when their resocialisation process is successful enough for them to lead a responsible life, they are given sheltered flats for leaving homelessness. In addition, the Brothers run welfare homes for the mentally and physically disabled and soup kitchens for the poor.
Services of the Albertine Brothers
Below you will find a complete list of the Albertine Brothers’ institutions. They are located not only in southern Poland, but also in Ukraine. In all these centres everyone who needs help can find it. So if you want to start a new life or you simply do not have a roof over your head or food and do not know where to go – come to us. We guarantee full anonymity and will not refuse to help anyone. And don’t hesitate to tell anyone who might need our support about our centres!
| General House in Krakow | 31-066 Kraków, ul. Krakowska 43 |
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| Sheltered housing for men recovering from homelessness | 30-715 Kraków, ul. Saska 9a |
Public task is financed by the City of Krakow |
| Zakopane | 34-500 Zakopane, ul. Kalatówki 2 |
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| Bulowice | 32-652 Bulowice, ul. Bł. Faustyny 4 |
Rural Home for Homeless Men |
| Ojców | 32-047 Ojców 64 |
Residential care home for the disabled |
| Częstochowa | 42-226 Częstochowa, ul. Św. Jadwigi 84/86 |
Residential care home for the disabled |
| Ukraina Zaporoże | 69093 Zaporoże, ul. Teligi 72b, Ukraina |
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| Ukraina Lwów | 79059 Lwów, ul. Mazepy 46a, Ukraina |
The Hermitage of the Albertine Brothers
The hermitages were set up by Brother Albert to give the brothers the possibility of seclusion in silence and peace. This was to facilitate prayer and contemplation of the things of God, as well as to renew the spirit and strength of the brothers after the hardships of serving the poorest people. The holy Founder of the Congregations enjoined his brothers and sisters to have a sufficient number of hermitages: “for then there will be strict discipline, and religious life will take root in the Congregations with great glory to God, and all will be well in hermitages and other houses. But if there are no more hermitages, even hospices for the poor will not be possible, because there will not be enough perseverance, dedication and strength to serve them.”
The goal of the Albertine hermitages is to build up the morale of the friars, to encourage them to persevere, to cheer them up and to give them an opportunity to regenerate their strength which they need to help the most needy.
History of the Albertine Hermitage
St. Albert’s Hermitage in Kalatówki was built by St. Brother Albert and his brothers in 1902. It was built on a place given to them by the then owner of Zakopane – count Władysław Zamoyski.
The monastery was extended several times by Brother Leon, Brother Angel and Brother Bonawentura. The chapel of Our Lady of Perpetual Help was built in 1926, and its consecration, together with the whole monastery, was carried out by Bishop Anatoly Nowak.
On 17 September 1977, a fire completely consumed the wooden buildings of the Hermitage. The foundation stone of the rebuilt monastery was consecrated by the Holy Father John Paul II on 1 August 1980 in Castel Gandolfo, and laid by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Krakow, Cardinal Franciszek Macharski on 3 September 1983. The project of the present monastery was made by Danuta Kopkowicz M.Sc. Zbigniew Śliwiński, M.Sc.
The Crucified Christ in the altar was funded by Cardinal Franciszek Macharski and is modelled on the Cross from the Cistercian Monastery in Krakow-Mogila.
Since 1984 in the Hermitage of the Albertine Brothers in Kalatówki there is also a Novitiate of our Congregation. It is a two year period of formation for brothers preparing to make their first religious profession.