Four centuries of service, rooted in Bangalore.
Satguru Sangh Charitable Trust is an initiative of the Piarist Fathers — also known as the Scolopi or Order of the Pious Schools — a Catholic Religious Order dedicated for over 400 years to the education of children, especially the poorest and most vulnerable.
Pietas et Litterae
Piety & Learning — Since 1617
Official Name
Ordo Clericorum Regularium Pauperum Matris Dei Scholarum Piarum (Sch. P.)
Also Known As
Piarists · Scolopi · Order of the Pious Schools
The Piarists — also called the Scolopi.
We are the Piarist Fathers (Sch. P.), popularly known as the Scolopi — a Catholic Religious Order founded in Rome in 1617 by St. Joseph Calasanz. Our official title is the Order of the Pauline Clerics Regular Poor of the Mother of God of the Pious Schools.
We were the first Religious Order in the Catholic Church founded specifically for education — and the first to open a free public school anywhere in Europe. Calasanz believed that a child taught well at an early age becomes a good citizen, a good Christian, and a good human being.
Today, more than 1,300 Piarist religious serve across 35+ countries on four continents — joined by over a hundred thousand lay partners in the Calasanz Family. We carry one mission everywhere: to educate the poor and form the whole person in wisdom, values and faith.
Education for All
Quality schooling as a sacred right for every child, especially the underprivileged.
Special 4th Vow
Piarists take a unique fourth vow — dedicating life to the Christian education of the poor.
Education as Ministry
Forming the whole person — mind, heart and faith — through teaching and accompaniment.
Global Family
Serving children across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas as one Calasanz Family.
Our Founder
St. Joseph Calasanz
1557 – 1648 · Canonized 1767
A revolutionary teacher of the poor.
"The best road to God is the one that leads through the education and formation of children." — St. Joseph Calasanz
Born in Peralta de la Sal, Aragon, Spain in 1557, Joseph Calasanz was ordained a priest in 1583. In 1592 he moved to Rome — and there, in the impoverished Trastevere district, he witnessed the despair of children growing up without education or hope.
In 1597 he opened the first free public school in Europe — a revolutionary act that proclaimed education as a right of every child regardless of birth, wealth or class. From that single classroom rose a movement that would change the face of schooling in the West.
Canonized in 1767, he was declared Universal Patron of all Christian Popular Schools by Pope Pius XII in 1948. He is honoured today as one of the founding fathers of modern popular education.
1557
Born in Spain
1597
First free school in Europe
1617
Order approved
1767
Canonized
A journey across centuries
St. Joseph Calasanz Born
Born in Peralta de la Sal, Aragon, Spain — the founder of the Piarist Order and pioneer of free public education for the poor.
First Free Public School in Europe
Calasanz opens the world's first free public school in the Trastevere district of Rome — declaring education a universal right.
Piarist Order Founded
Approved by Pope Paul V as the "Congregation of the Pauline Clerics Regular Poor of the Mother of God of the Pious Schools" (Scolopi).
Elevated by Pope Gregory XV
Raised to a full Religious Order — the first ever founded specifically for the education of children, especially the poor.
Calasanz Canonized
Pope Clement XIII declares him a Saint; in 1948 Pope Pius XII proclaims him "Universal Patron of all Christian Popular Schools".
Piarists Arrive in India
Fr. José Alfaro arrives in Cochin at the invitation of Bishop Joseph Kureethara. The first Piarist house is established in Aroor, Kerala.
First Indian Piarist Priests
The first native Indian Piarists are ordained — a historic milestone for the Order in Asia.
Vice-Province of India Established
Formally established on 25th August — recognising nearly two decades of faithful mission across India.
Satguru Sangh in Bangalore
Carrying forward the Calasanz charism through education, hostels, skill training, non-formal learning and community service.
Piarist works — in India & worldwide
The Scolopi have served children and families across India since 1994. Today our Vice-Province operates schools, hostels, parishes and mission outposts across eight Indian states — alongside a global presence in over 35 countries.
Schools & Academies
Calasanz schools across Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and beyond — educating children from pre-primary through senior secondary.
Boarding & Hostels
Residential homes for tribal, rural and disadvantaged children, enabling continuous schooling far from their villages.
Parishes & Pastoral Care
Parishes and faith-formation centres serving local communities with Word, sacraments and accompaniment.
Vocational Training Centres
Skill-development programmes equipping youth and women with practical, market-ready livelihoods.
Non-Formal Education
Bridge classes, literacy drives and learning centres for children outside the formal schooling system.
Mission Outposts
New foundations in remote regions, extending the Order's reach to children who have never seen a classroom.
1,300+
Piarist Religious
across 4 continents
35+
Countries of Presence
globally
8
Indian States
and growing
400+
Years of Mission
since 1617
Our Core Values
Education for All
Quality schooling as a sacred right for every child — especially the poor, vulnerable and marginalised.
Compassionate Service
We meet people where they are — with dignity, respect, and unconditional care for the whole person.
Transparency
Audited records, registered status and full accountability at every step of our work.