Help Fund New Vocations in the Missions
Read more of Josiah’s story:
When ordained, every priest in the world is obedient to his bishop. When asked what he would choose for a first assignment, if given a chance by his own bishop, Josiah laughed at the thought. Then he answered that he wished he could bring better education to the children of the tea plantations of Sri Lanka. He knows that he was lucky to escape that sometimes backbreaking work and cycle of poverty because he stood out in the local village school and qualified for a scholarship “in town”. This meant leaving the mountain with its cement rows of single room houses that large families shared to experience a different way of life. His path to becoming who God inteneded him to be was secured.
The goal of The Society of St. Peter has always been to invite individuals to support the education of candidates for the Catholic priesthood in the Developing World and to support the formation of men and women candidates for the Religious life in the Missions.
In its first year, The Society of St. Peter Apostle sent help for some 2,700 seminarians in the Missions. Today, some 30,000 major seminarians, mostly in Africa and Asia, receive an annual subsidy of $700 per student. To help Josiah and others like him around the world, click the Donate Now button and check St. Peter Apostle when giving.
The Society of St. Peter Apostle
In 1883, Stephanie and Jeanne Bigard answered a desperate plea for help from the Missions. Within five years the Bigards, and other donors, were sending funds to seminaries across Southeast Asia.
Fast forward to 2017 and the Society of St. Peter Apostle still nurtures local vocations in the Missions worldwide. Here, we present the story of one young man who depends on The Society for half his tuition: $700 a year.
Another commonality is their dependence on YOU – the benefactors of the Society of St. Peter Apostle – to achieve their goal of becoming one of their country’s local clergy.
Raised in a faith filled family, Josiah saw from a young age that it was important to be involved in parish life but never thought of himself as a priest. On a family visit to a cousin, who is a Missionary Sister of Charity, his eyes were opened to what true service to God’s poor meant.
As his family toured the Sisters’ home for the sick, his father cautioned the children to avert their eyes. Suddenly, a naked man ran towards them – screaming and disoriented. His Sister cousin calmly took the man by the hand, bathed him, wrapped him in a sarong and soothed him, never losing her smile or eye contact with him.