"I will never tire of repeating that we have to be contemplative souls in the midst of the world, who try to convert their work into prayer.” Saint Josemaría
"I will never tire of repeating that we have to be contemplative souls in the midst of the world, who try to convert their work into prayer.”
Jorge Gisbert was born in Alcoy, Alicante (Spain) in 1969. He was ordained a priest in 2004. He was Central Vicar Secretary of Opus Dei from 2019 to 2025.
M. Julia Prats was born in Terrassa (Spain) in 1964. She is an industrial engineer, with a doctorate in Business Administration, and a professor specializing in entrepreneurship and innovation. She has been Central Secretary of Opus Dei since April 2025.
Protocol of the Opus Dei Prelature
On 28 November 1982, St. John Paul II erected Opus Dei as a Personal Prelature by means of the Apostolic Constitution "Ut sit." Here are some videos and texts on its juridical structure and apostolic mission.
Auxiliary Vicar of Opus Dei since 2019, Mariano Fazio was born in Buenos Aires on April 25, 1960. He has been rector of the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross and was an invited expert at the Latin American Bishops Conference in Aparecida, Brazil, in 2007.
The prelature is governed by a Prelate, in accordance with canon law and the specific statutes of Opus Dei. Its headquarters are in Rome.
What is a personal prelature?
Msgr. Fernando Ocáriz is a theologian and is also the Vicar General of Opus Dei. This Zenit interview was held on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of Opus Dei as a personal prelature.
In 1982, with the Apostolic Constitution, "Ut sit," John Paul II erected Opus Dei as a personal prelature. The following video records the first Prelate, Msgr. Alvaro del Portillo, receiving the bull "Ut sit" in the Basilica of Saint Eugene in Rome.
From its foundation on October 2, 1928, Opus Dei was already in essence, although in an embryonic state, the same as we see it today: a part of the Church, made up of faithful and structured hierarchically around a head who was at first the founder, St. Josemaría Escrivá, a priest.
Rev. Antoni Pujals i Ginebreda was born in Terrassa, Spain, in 1955. Ordained a priest in Rome in 1985, he was the Vicar General of the Prelature from 2019 to 2025.
Fr. Javier del Castillo, an American priest, was born in Mexico in 1975 and grew up in various cities in Mexico and the United States. He was ordained a priest in Rome in 2005. He has been the Vicar General of the Prelature of Opus Dei since April 2025.
Following the publication of Pope Francis’ Motu Proprio Vos estis lux mundi (2019), Opus Dei’s Prelate, Mgr. Fernando Ocariz, issued guidelines for the whole Prelature regarding Safeguarding: Prelature Guidelines for Safeguarding Minors and Vulnerable Persons (2020).
The Statutes of Opus Dei were promulgated by Pope St John Paul II in 1982. Written in Latin, they define precisely the juridical configuration of the Prelature, its organization, and its aims.
The Prelature of Opus Dei in Britain is committed to promoting the safety and welfare of children and vulnerable adults in accordance with the current standards set out for the Catholic Church in England and Wales and in Scotland by the respective Bishops’ Conferences.
An article by Guillaume Derville on why the faithful in the Prelature of Opus Dei call the prelate "Father."
Opus Dei's work of spiritual formation complements the work of local churches. People who join Opus Dei or attend its activities continue to belong to their local dioceses.
On March 19, 1983 in Rome, the handing over of the Bull “Ut Sit” took place. This document from John Paul II erected Opus Dei as a personal prelature. Opus Dei’s only purpose, as the Founder said, “is to serve the Church".
Naturally this vocational requirement is not essential to personal prelatures, which could be based on very diverse circumstances, usually linked to social bonds among its faithful.
Although similar personal hierarchical structures already existed (such as military vicariates), the juridical figure of the personal prelature is the result of an apostolic desire of the Second Vatican Council that later took form in the present Code of Canon Law. The first to be erected was the prelature of Opus Dei, in the Apostolic Constitution Ut sit of John Paul II, on November 28, 1982.
Msgr. José Andrés Carvajal was born in Murcia (Spain) in 1970. He was ordained a priest in Rome in 1999. He has been Central Secretary Vicar of the Prelature of Opus Dei since April 2025.
This article lists the current circumscriptions of Opus Dei, which include about seventy countries in which the Prelature is present.
This Safeguarding Policy for the investigation of allegations of abuse of minors or vulnerable adults in the activities of the Prelature of Opus Dei applies to the countries in the Region of North West Europe.
The English translation of the apostolic constitution, Ut sit, by which Opus Dei was established as the Catholic Church's first personal prelature.
People join, remain in, and leave Opus Dei freely
From a legal standpoint, Opus Dei is a personal prelature of the Catholic Church. Prelatures are entrusted with undertaking certain pastoral activities.
Opus Dei was born in the Church and exists in the Church to serve the Church. In this year marking the 25th anniversary of the Work’s being erected as a personal prelature, we offer an article explaining the relevance of this event.
A new edition of the short book, The Juridical Mind of St. Josemaria Escriva, by canon law professor, Ernest Caparros has been published on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Opus Dei becoming a personal prelature.
The work and entire life of the members of Opus Dei, to the extent to which they are loyal to their vocation, constitutes a part of the spiritual and apostolic good of the diocese.
