Sulpicians: Mission

Why Others Have Helped

Please accept the enclosed cheque ... It represents our parish "outreach" and support for your mission formation work begun by the Sulpician Fathers of the American Province favoring seminarians in Zambia, Africa. We see this as a small sign saying "yes" to the Province’s generosity toward the growing Church on the African continent.

Rev. Roger Soley, Pastor
Archdiocese of Washington

In Zambia, Emmaus Spirituality Centre Feeds, Clothes, Houses, and Educates Young Men Despite Odds

A Success Story

Francis Musonda was our first native Seminarian in Zambia. Like many of his peers, he and his family made great sacrifices so that he could train to become a priest.

After finishing his studies at Emmaus, he went out on mission to work in several village "chapels" – as many as 17 scattered huts throughout the rural countryside. Walking from one to another, the itinerant pastor sought to meet the spiritual needs of the people with Mass, prayer services, pastoral guidance, and community support.

Today, Fr. Francis is back on the staff of Emmaus Spirituality Centre in Lusaka. For two years he had been at St. Mary's Seminary and University in Baltimore where he earned the S.T.L. degree. The cost of graduate education for young Zambian Sulpicians is born largely by the Province.

Zambia is one of the poorest countries in Africa, with most of the population making a bare subsistence living as rural farmers. The educational system is inadequate, lacking textbooks, reference books, computers, and other vital resources.

There are more than two million Catholics in the country, but only 100 native priests to serve them.

Young men have strong faith and a deep desire to become priests, but the road to ordination is difficult. They have to overcome not only poverty, but also other roadblocks, such as language. The language in the Seminary is English, but few can speak it when they arrive. There are some 70 different tribal languages in Zambia and the first hurtle is to find a common language for learning.

We struggle to maintain the Seminary itself. The seminarians care for the vegetable gardens, which supply food. But, the seminarians need better clothing and furniture. The rooms of the Seminary are very small and house a bunk bed and small desk, which two students share. We have a constant need for bedding, shoes, and kitchen equipment. Seminarians are paid a small stipend to clean the Seminary and this allows them to make home visits. For their return, their families usually sell a cow, sheep, or other vital animal just to provide them enough money for transportation back to the Seminary.

Elsewhere in Zambia
Father Cale Crowley, S.S., is the rector of St. Augustine Seminary in Mpima.