The SPA is the Church’s official fundraising body for the training of clergy and religious in mission countries.

Through prayer and finance SPA supporters provide these younger churches with the essential help they need to train their own priests, sisters and brothers.

In 1922, Pope Pius XI placed the Society under papal patronage and gave it the task of supporting each and every seminary in the missionary world.

How it began: ‘Might I interest you a little in my seminary?’ wrote a French missionary Bishop, Mgr Cousin, of Nagasaki in Japan in 1888 to Stephanie Bigard and her daughter Jeanne (pictured).

Due to lack of funds, the Bishop was turning away many young men, who were answering God’s call and eager to join the seminary. More

The first seminary built by the SPA was Our Lady of Lanka in Kandy, Sri Lanka, in 1893, which today is one of the five seminaries sponsored by the SPA in England and Wales.

The Society of St Peter the Apostle publishes a yearly magazine: Mission Tomorrow

Pope John Paul II stressed that the work of this Society is more important than ever before. He appealed for renewed support at a time when vocations are increasing at an encouraging rate in the mission church.

The training of local priests and religious is vital for a self-sustaining faith community

The worldwide SPA supports  30,000 major seminarians and 10,000 religious

‘No good vocation should be lost owing to a lack of material resources.’
Pope John Paul II