The Congregation of the Servants of the Paraclete is a Roman Catholic religious congregation dedicated to ministering to priests with personal difficulties.

Founded in 1947 by Father Gerald Fitzgerald in Jemez Springs, New Mexico, the congregation takes its name from the Paraclete, which represents the Holy Spirit as an advocate or helper.

Father Fitzgerald envisioned a Catholic community that would serve the needs of priests and religious brothers struggling with various issues, such as pedophilia, alcohol abuse, and substance misuse. According to Father Fitzgerald, the inspiration for the Servants of the Paraclete came from an encounter with a destitute transient who revealed that he had once been a priest. He was saddened that the man had given up his vocation and that nothing had been done to rehabilitate him. With that in mind, Father Fitzgerald sought to create a place for healing and support.

Father Fitzgerald was strongly opposed to psychological treatment, focusing instead on spiritual treatment, such as Eucharistic adoration. Although the congregation served priests with alcohol and substance abuse problems, Father Fitzgerald opposed programs like Alcoholics Anonymous.

After Father Fitzgerald put out a call for a sponsor for the new religious congregation, the Archbishop of Santa Fe responded, and Fitzgerald purchased 2,000 acres in Jemez Springs, New Mexico, formally founding the Congregation of the Servants of the Paraclete in 1947, and the organization's headquarters opened in January of that year. Press reports described the organization as "a group of priests and religious brothers dedicated to the contemplative life and care of aged and infirm priests."

Although the first priests enrolled in the services of the congregation were those struggling with alcohol and substance abuse, the congregation soon began receiving priests who had been accused of sexually abusing children. Originally, Father Fitzgerald attempted to treat pedophile priests using the contemplative methods used with the others. By 1948, he began refusing to take in priests who were sexually attracted to children.

Father Fitzgerald became increasingly persuaded that such priests could not be cured and that they could not be trusted to maintain celibacy. He opposed returning priests who were sexually attracted to minors to duties to parish duties. However, many bishops chose to ignore Fitzgerald's recommendations, relying instead on the advice of psychological experts who insisted that treatment of pedophilia was feasible.

Despite Father Fitzgerald's reservation, the severity and prevalence of pedophilia and homosexuality within the church led to significant challenges that needed to be met by someone.

Over time, the Servants of the Paraclete established additional locations, including Albuquerque, St. Louis, and Gloucestershire, England.

At its peak, the Paraclete congregation operated twenty-three facilities in the United States, Italy, England, Scotland, France, Africa, South America, and the Philippines.

In response to a series of lawsuits in the 1990s related to sexually abusive priests treated at its facilities in New Mexico, the congregation consolidated its holistic programs, and the Vianney Renewal Center in Dittmer, Missouri became the focal point for the organization's work with sexually abusive of pedophiliac priests.

Father Fitzgerald was eventually forced from leadership in the congregation, partly due to a growing disagreement with the bishop and other congregation members over its direction. As Fitzgerald lost control, the influence of medical and psychological professionals gained control.

The Congregation of the Servants of the Paraclete remains committed to its mission, providing support, healing, and rehabilitation to clergy members, albeit on a much smaller scale. While its history has been shaped by controversies, its dedication to serving priests and religious brothers continues.

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