Support the Formation
of Seminarians Worldwide

Since 2014, Catholic World Mission has supported the needs of men discerning the priesthood in India through our work with the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales. Our donors have been extremely generous at every turn, and have risen to the occasion every time these courageous men had a need they couldn’t meet on their own. We are so excited to announce that there are now more opportunities for you to help foster vocations!

With a special focus on missionary orders and poor dioceses around the world, you can help hundreds of seminarians on their way to the priesthood!

Meet Some of the Seminarians YOU can Support Today!

YEBOAH SAMPSON

Support these devoted young men as they serve our Heavenly Father

Yeboah Sampson, a seminarian of St. Paul’s, first heard the call to be a priest as an altar server at his home parish in Bonsu Nkwanta. Encouraged by the solid catechetical foundation that he learned from his father and parish community, Yeboah decided to pursue a vocation to the priesthood. Now, confident in God’s grace, Yeboah seeks to discern, understand, and authenticate his calling.

GEORGE TANO

Support these devoted young men as they serve our Heavenly Father

George Tano is a seminarian in the diocese of Wiawso currently studying in his third year of Theology. At the young age of 9, George was inspired to become a priest by watching his parish priest celebrate daily Mass for the entire community. George has an ardent desire to save souls, dedicate his life to serving God and others, and evangelize to his own people.

LUKE GYEBI

Support these devoted young men as they serve our Heavenly Father

Meet Luke Gyebi, a second-year Philosophy seminarian at St. Paul Catholic Seminary. Luke was drawn to the priesthood after witnessing the reverence with which his late parish priest vested for Mass. Though Luke thoroughly enjoys the human aspect of priestly formation (particularly sports!), he has an even greater desire to excel in the spiritual, moral, and intellectual pillars. Luke believes that the Church needs “True Catholic” priests who are not afraid to celebrate beautiful liturgies, adore Christ, and form the rest of humanity.

RICHMOND KWAW

Support these devoted young men as they serve our Heavenly Father

Richmond Kwaw, 21, hails from the small village of Enchi, where he was brought up in a humble Catholic family of six. After a priest recommended seminary to him, Richmond jumped on the opportunity to deepen his faith, continue his higher education, and inspire future generations. Luke knows that the seminary is the one place he can continue on his journey to the priesthood and the bedrock upon which he can be further molded into the likeness of God.

BENWEN LOPEZ

Support these devoted young men as they serve our Heavenly Father

Benwen Lopez is from the Diocese of Sindhudurg, India. He is a graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville in Steubenville, Ohio, and it was in his final semester at FUS that he first felt the call to the priesthood. He says, “God called me to serve my home country, India.” “However,” Benwen tells us, “I put my decision on hold and returned to the corporate world after graduation. I worked as an assistant editor for a business magazine in Dubai, UAE. Although I was exposed to the corporate world, and the flashy lifestyle, with tons of opportunities to make a lot of money, I felt a void in my heart. “After 18 months, I resigned from my job. With the blessing of my family, bishop, pastor, and spiritual director, I joined the Diocese of Sindhudurg. It was a challenging and tough decision for me to make, but it was the intensity of God’s presence in the Eucharist that drew me to the priesthood. For me, the Eucharist is everything. Many people ask me why, at the age of 39, I joined the seminary. The answer is simple: it takes time for God to pull in a ‘bull whale’ like me into his net.”

History, Updates and more

What is the Catholic priesthood?

In Matthew 9:36 we hear that Jesus looked with pity on the crowd because they were like sheep without a shepherd. He was sad to see so many people in his day that had no one to teach them about the love of God. That problem has never fully gone away, but the priesthood is God’s gift of shepherds for his people today.

For so many people, the priestly shepherd is the living example of God’s love in their life. He is with them to baptize their children. He watches those same children grow and form families of their own. He is even with them in death as a loving and consoling presence. He is there through joys and sorrows as the good shepherd who walks with them on their journey toward God.

The priest is also a reminder that there is more to life than our basic material needs. Even, or perhaps especially, in our material need the priest is a witness to the spiritual life within us that gives joy and meaning to all the rest. He is the regular, humble witness to the truth that only God will make us fully happy. 

A priest hears a confession in Rome. The Catholic priest is the living example of God's love in our lives.

The CWM Seminarian Support program focuses in a special way on missionary priests, men who work as God’s priestly shepherds in remote territories, places where people may have never heard of Jesus, or places where poverty and hopelessness are extreme. These seminarians, once they are ordained as priests, will be sent all over the world to proclaim the love of God and serve those in great need.

When you support seminarians and priests, you are joining–in a very real, powerful way–in the work of Jesus to bring His love to the world through His priests. And when you support these seminarians and priests in particular, you are sending a spark of hope directly to the parts of the world that need it most.

Click through the following tabs to learn how you can share God’s love in places like Bangladesh, India, Africa, Sri Lanka, and beyond!

Missionary Dioceses

Diocese of Jowai

The Diocese of Jowai is still a very young diocese, but already the harvest is plentiful. The diocese has 31 seminarians, including two deacons, in formation. These men study at seven seminaries operated by other dioceses until Jowai has enough resources to have its own seminary. Most of these seminarians come from very poor families. Here are three of their stories:

Meet Some of the Seminarians of the Diocese of Jowai:

Sambha is in formation as a seminarian for the Diocese of Jowai
Sambha Kyndait

Sambha, 27, comes from a family of 10. Growing up, the family practiced a tribal religion but today, Sambha and one of his siblings is Catholic. Sambha was baptised in 2006, at the age of 15. It was on that day that he felt the call to the priesthood. His desire to become a priest continues to this day. He is hardworking, devout, sincere, and polite.

Click here now to help Sambha and seminarians like him today!

Donbok Pakma

Donbok, 25, is the oldest of three children. His father died when Donbok was just eight years old. His mother, consumed by grief, was no longer able to raise her children, who were each sent to a youth hostel. Providentially, Donbok was sent to a hostel operated by priests, where he lived for several years. Now in his seventh year of formation, he is about to begin his regency period, where he will receive all the practical training he needs to be a holy and pious priest.

Click here now to help Donbok and seminarians like him today!

Donbok is in formation as a seminarian for the Diocese of Jowai, Bangladesh. You can support him today!
Daleiki, 26, is a seminarian for the Diocese of Jowai, Bangladesh. He needs your help today!
Daleiki Shylla

Daleiki, 26, comes from a family of 11 children (he has seven brothers and three sisters!). In high school, he realized he wanted to become a priest. But when he first shared this with his family, they told him they couldn’t support him. When he graduated from high school, he went on to college. He worked during the day and took classes at night in order to support himself. Once again, he felt the tug toward seminary. Now in his fourth year of formation, Dalieki is respectful, obedient, devout, and hardworking.

Click here now to help Daleiki and seminarians like him today!

Diocese of Sindhudurg

The Diocese of Sindhudurg is a missionary, poor, rural diocese in southwestern India. The total population of the diocese is 5,365,706 with 29,794 Catholics. While the Diocese of Sinhudurg is fairly young–it was formally erected on July 5, 2005–great fruit is already being borne here. 11 men are currently in formation for the priesthood, and 28 are ordained priests.

Meet Some of the Seminarians of the Diocese of Sindhudurg:

Richard Fernandes

Richard, 24, grew up in a supportive and devout Catholic family where he was involved in altar serving and became inspired by the lives of the priests and seminarians in his parish. After joyfully accepting his vocation to join the priesthood, Richard completed seven years in formation where he studied Zoology and Philosophy, completed a year-long pastoral experience at a Clergy home, and assisted a neighboring Catholic school. Now, it is his eighth year information where he is studying Theology.

Click here now to help Richard and seminarians like him today!

Seminarians.Richard Fernandes, Diocese of Sindhudurg, India
Support seminarian Lloyd D'Souza as he discerns his vocation to the priesthood!
Lloyd D’Souza

I come from a middle-class family who lives with the fear of God. When I was a child, my parents sowed the seed of priesthood in me, and ever since then, my childhood dream was to be a priest. As I journeyed along in life, the seed began to grow, even though I was caught up with worldly pleasures, which challenged my vocation. However, soon after my tenth grade, I realised the joy of being a priest, and I recognised that the worldly pleasures are only temporary, as compared to the eternal happiness of heaven. I then decided to enter the seminary, and now, I am on my journey towards the priesthood.

Click here now to help Lloyd and seminarians like him today!

Gabriel Fernandes

After completing my high school in 2013, I began discerning about the priesthood. I took it up in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament and discussed it with my family too. They were very supportive of me joining the priesthood. I then expressed my desire to join the priesthood to Bishop Alwyn Barreto who then accepted me as a seminarian for the Diocese of Sindhudurg.

Click here now to help Gabriel and seminarians like him today!

You can help Seminarian Gabriel Fernandes of India
Seminarian Benwen Lopez found his vocation after several years in the corporate world!
Benwen Lopez

I first received my calling when I was completing my final semester at Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio, and I always believed that God called me to serve my home country, India. However, I put my decision on hold and returned to the corporate world after graduation. I worked as an Assistant Editor in Dubai for a business magazine. But although I was exposed to the corporate world, the flashy lifestyle, with tons of opportunity to make a lot of money, I felt a void in my heart. I turned again to the idea that maybe I was called to the priesthood. After an 18-month discernment program, I resigned from my job, and joined the Diocese of Sindhudurg. Surely it was a challenging and tough decision for me to take, but it was the intensity of God’s presence in the Eucharist that drew me to the priesthood.  For me the Eucharist is everything.

Click here now to help Benwen and seminarians like him today!

Missionary Orders

Society of African Missions (known as “SMA” because of their Latin name, Societas Missionum ad Afros) was founded in 1856 by Bishop Melchior de Marion Bresillac.

Vocations are booming for SMA fathers, with more than 300 seminarians at various levels of formation at five campuses in Nigeria, Kenya, Ivory Coast, Zambia, and Benin Republic. After being ordained, these men will be missionaries throughout Africa. There are already 109 SMA priests in Africa.

With so many young men in formation, the SMA fathers have great difficulty supporting them. The seminarians come from poor countries and poor communities that can offer very little financial support.

As Fr. Frank McGrath, SMA, told us, “The harvest is great, laborers are willing, but their formation is suffering for want of funds.” YOU can help today!

Society of African Missions seminarians, newly ordained to the deaconate

Meet some of the SMA seminarians below:

James Israel, Seminarian Student at SMA

Originally from the Philippines, James first entered the seminary in June 2014. After years of studying philosophy, he decided to leave the seminary and pursue a career at a marketing company. James began to regret his decision not too long afterward, and referenced St. Augustine of Hippo to describe how he was feeling at the time: “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.”.

“There was a call within me that I needed to respond to.”

After deliberately praying about this call, James decided to submit an application letter to the Society of African Mission Priests (SMA). He then received a positive response and moved to West Africa to join the seminary. It was a joyful yet difficult time for him as he adjusted to the seminary in the Republic of Benin. Everything was new to him including the people, language, food, and culture. However, experiencing all of these new things all at once helped James to be open-minded while learning and living in an international community.

“I was able to deepen my relationship with Jesus Christ who is the source of my vocation and the very model of a missionary priest.”

Click here now to help James Israel and seminarians like him today!

Seminarian student at SMA
Cornelius Omini, SMA
Deacon Cornelius Omini, SMA

Deacon Cornelius Omini, SMA, entered religious life with the Society of African Missions in 2011. But his vocation as a missionary priest was ignited when he was a child, when he served as an altar server at his home parish. He tells us,

Ours is a diocesan parish, but religious priests are often invited to help on Sundays. I recall that one weekend we had a visit from a Nigerian SMA priest, Fr. Cajetan Metu. During his homily that Sunday, he greeted the people in five different international languages and immediately I fell in love with this priest and was eager to know about his congregation.

After Mass I approached him. His simplicity, while listening to my pressing questions, impressed me. It was through him I got to know the Society of African Missions and I wished to join.

When Deacon Cornelius entered in 2011, he learned about the SMA’s founder, Bishop Melchior de Marion Bresillac. Deacon Cornelius says, “His zeal and enthusiasm for the mission moved my heart, so that I too could give my life, leave home and family, for the sake of the work of God.”

Of his time with the SMAs, Deacon Cornelius says,

I have no regrets […]. I have felt love and acceptance from colleagues and priests in the SMA. This is a source of inspiration and blessing for me, my family, and my local church. I live every day with gratitude to the SMA and I continually commit myself to the service of God’s people as I prepare for missionary priesthood.

I ask you to remember me in your prayers.

Click here now to help Deacon Cornelius and seminarians like him today!

Deacon Yakubu Sabo, SMA

I am Salisu Yakubu Sabo, third born in the family of eight children. I am Hausa by tribe, although we are also called Maguzawa on account of our faith. Maguzawa literally means “those who ran away from Islam.”Although I felt called to the priesthood right from childhood, and even though my first parish priest was an SMA, I never really knew what SMA was until 2016 when Fr. Patrick Kwis, SMA, the vocations’ Director for northern Nigeria, visited our school and spoke about the SMA Missionary Vocation. That was the time I got to know the meaning of the initials I saw after the name of my former parish priest, Fr. Michael Waters, SMA. My desire to be a priest, and subsequently, an SMA, was greatly inspired by the exemplary life of service and dedication I saw in Fr. Michael Waters, SMA. As a child, I did not really know what the priesthood meant, but all I wanted was to be like Fr. Waters.My happiest moments as a seminarian are those occasions when I find myself in the areas of primary evangelization. They remind me of how much somebody sacrificed for me to be what I am today; and this always motivates me to be a missionary priest. I am the fruit of the missionary activities of the SMA and today I desire to be a seed that will germinate and bear more fruit among other people.

Click here now to help Deacon Yakubu and seminarians like him today!

Deacon Yakubu Sabo, SMA
Deacon Abel Yashim, SMA
Deacon Abel Yashim, SMA

Growing up, many of the SMA priests Abel knew were from Ireland. The Catholic Church began evangelization in his hometown many years ago. Among those first early missionaries were SMA priests.

I was touched by their simple and dedicated lives and so have opted to dedicate my life to serve humanity through the missionary activity of the Society of African Missions (SMA). I wish to continue the legacy received from the Irish missionaries I knew in a place that I do not yet know.

Deacon Abel will complete his studies in Nairobi next year. He will be ordained in his home parish in the middle belt of Nigeria and then appointed in another country for his missionary work.

Click here now to help Deacon Abel and seminarians like him today!

Join us in praying for the SMAs! Visit the “How You Can Help” tab to give much needed support to these men.

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