Stories

In many parts of the world, the Catholic Church is growing—sometimes quietly, sometimes rapidly, but almost always under one constant reality: the need for priests.

This was already true when MISSION Magazine was first published in 1951. At the time, missionaries described vast territories where the Eucharist could be celebrated only occasionally, where communities waited weeks or months for a priest to arrive, and where the future of the Church depended on forming local clergy.

That need has not disappeared. But the way the Church responds has changed—and grown.

Today, across Africa, Asia, and parts of Oceania, the Church is increasingly sustained by priests formed within their own cultures and communities. Supporting those native vocations is the mission of the Society of St. Peter the Apostle, one of the four Pontifical Mission Societies, whose work is made possible through the generosity of Catholics around the world.

In Tanzania, the story of the Church’s growth can be seen in the history of the Major Seminary of St. Paul in Kipalapala.

Founded in 1918 by the Missionaries of Africa, the seminary began in the midst of extraordinary challenges. One of the buildings that now forms part of the complex was originally a refuge for freed slaves, established by missionaries who sought not only to evangelize, but to restore dignity in the face of human suffering.

More than a century later, that same place now forms future priests.

Today, 230 seminarians are studying at Kipalapala. Over the past 100 years, the seminary has formed more than 1,500 priests and dozens of bishops, helping to build a local Church that is now vibrant and deeply rooted. The seeds planted by missionaries—and sustained by the prayers and generosity of the faithful—have borne lasting fruit.

That fruit is also visible in the lives of individual priests.

In Malawi, Bishop Vincent Frederick Mwakhwawa remembers the missionary who first inspired his vocation. As a child, he saw a priest visit his village only once every four months to celebrate the Eucharist. The scarcity left an impression.

Determined to respond, he began traveling more than 30 kilometers by bicycle to attend vocation meetings. His family could not afford his formation, but he was able to enter the seminary thanks to the support of the Society of St. Peter the Apostle.

“I am the fruit of the sacrifice of good people who offered money and prayed for us,” he told MISSION Magazine.

Today, he serves as auxiliary bishop of Lilongwe—one of many whose vocation was made possible through the support of the universal Church.

In other parts of the world, the need is even more stark.

In Laos, a country ruled by a communist government, the 53,000 Catholics present are served by only about 20 priests. The presence of foreign missionaries is not permitted, making local vocations essential for the life of the Church.

When two new priests were ordained in April 2026, the event was not routine—it was a moment of profound hope.

For a community spread across remote areas and living as a small minority, each new priest represents the possibility of more frequent access to the sacraments, greater pastoral care, and a future in which the Church can continue to grow.

These stories—across continents and cultures—point to a single reality: the mission of the Church depends on the formation of those who will serve it.

The Society of St. Peter the Apostle responds to that need in a direct and practical way. Each year, it helps sustain hundreds of seminaries in mission territories, covering basic expenses such as food, housing, education, and formation. Without this support, many of these institutions would not be able to remain open.

For the seminarians themselves, the impact is immediate. Many come from families with very limited means. Their vocation is real, but without assistance, the path to the priesthood would be closed.

For the Church, the impact is lasting.

A priest formed today will serve communities for decades—celebrating the sacraments, accompanying families, forming future generations of Catholics, and strengthening the life of the Church in places where it is still taking root.

In this way, the connection between Catholics in the United States and seminarians in mission territories becomes part of something larger.

What was once described primarily as missionary outreach is now more clearly understood as communion. The Church supports her own members across the world, ensuring that the Gospel continues to be preached and lived in every culture.

The missionaries of the past laid the foundations.

Today, those foundations are being built upon by local clergy—men who carry the mission forward in their own languages, among their own people, with a deep understanding of the communities they serve.

And in supporting them, Catholics are not only helping to meet a present need, they are helping to shape the future of the Church.

Thanks to the generosity of Catholics around the world, including the United States, the Society of St. Peter the Apostle supports 751 seminaries each year in Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas, as directed by the Pope. These include minor and major seminaries, where 90,352 seminarians are studying. Without this support, many of them, located in the poorest parts of the world, would have to close their doors. Last year, the Society of St. Peter the Apostle distributed $18,502,506 among them. 

Seventy-eight percent of this money is used to provide an annual subsidy for the seminaries’ ordinary expenses and the seminarians’ living expenses. The remainder is used to address specific needs such as the construction of new classrooms, solar panels, and university tuition. 

In addition, this Pontifical Society also supports the first year of formation for future religious sisters in congregations founded in mission territories that have no other international support. Last year, $629,302 were allocated to support 2,400 novices in 19 countries across Africa, Asia, and Oceania.

A Sobering Comparison

As of 2023, the Diocese of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, had 389 priests—diocesan and religious—serving a population of about 1.7 million, roughly one-third of whom are Catholic. In Equatorial Guinea, approximately 108 priests serve a population of similar size, nearly 90 percent of whom are Catholic. 

In Laos, a country of about 53,000 Catholics, the entire Church is served by only 20 priests. In Tulsa, Oklahoma, there are 122 priests for a similar number of faithful.