The SPA worldwide supports every seminary in mission dioceses throughout the world. The SPA in England and Wales supports a portion of these seminaries, five of which are where we offer our sponsorship scheme. All contributions received through donations, legacies and sponsorships are sent directly to the seminaries to help them train priests for the Church of today and tomorrow.

Your support

The sums for distribution in 2008 were (in US dollars $):

·         India                         $165,646    (£92,871.87)

·         Kenya                       $ 493,140   (£276,535.46)

·         Malawi                     $345,500    (£193,744.17)

·         Nigeria                     $150,000    (£84,113.91)

·         Zimbabwe                $69,000      (£38,690.50)

·         Sri Lanka                  $275,770    (£154,633.03)

Total      $1,499,056    (£840,824.07)

Updates

Some supporters have been concerned about the seminaries with which we are in contact, especially Kenya, after the unrest late last year, and also Myanmar (Burma) after the recent floods. Our seminarians are well and were not physically hurt, but some lost family members and friends. Their communities have suffered great tragedy and loss.

St Paul's Seminary in Yangon suffered some damage but it can be repaired and the life of the students goes on as normally as possible. They are helping the local community to repair buildings and supporting the people through their pastoral and spiritual work. Let's pray that these young men carry on with their studies; they will be leaders of their communities, to whom people will turn when in need.

Fr George Buleya, outgoing Rector of St Peter’s Major Seminary, Zomba, Malawi, writes:

'We are pleased that the long-awaited new pastoral experience format was finally submitted to the Bishops' Conference.   We are of the belief that the time that seminarians spend outside the seminary in various parishes on pastoral experience provides a unique opportunity to get to know the seminarian and assess his suitability for priesthood.'

He speaks on behalf of the staff and students of all the seminaries supported by the SPA when he says:

‘I take this opportunity to thank the Pontifical Society of St. Peter the Apostle and the dedicated benefactors for their generous support and prayers.   Your dedicated and never-failing support assures us of God’s own goodness and providence.  It touches our hearts to see that although we are miles and miles apart and although you have never met us in person, you still have our welfare and our formation at heart.  Our prayer, and take it from us – we do this every day in the seminary, that God should bless you abundantly. ‘