Acts 4:32
We are a missionary family, founded in 1703. We live the Gospel in response to the changing needs of contemporary culture, building community in parts of the world that are often neglected.
Committed to respectful evangelization, by our witness and service, we introduce people to the Holy Gospel and God’s love for them.
Nearly 3,000 Spiritans serve in over sixty countries on six continents – in Europe, Africa, North and South America, Asia and Oceania.
In Africa, where light and shadow, joy and sorrow, hope and despondency, good health and bad will follow each other in such disconcerting and rapid succession, one needs an extra dose of cheerfulness. I suppose that was one of the reasons why St Paul - the great missionary - was so insistent on 'cheer-fulness. You will remember his "Gaudete, iterum dico: gaudete".
Joseph Shanahan, to the Holy Rosary Sisters, 02.07.1934, Letters I, 100
1847 | Australia
Coming from his mission (Albany & Mollyalup) where Libermann's missionaries are completely abandoned, Fr Thévaux arrives in Perth on March 14. There are several stormy interviews with the Bishop, which seem to indicate some mental derangement. Finally, Fr Thévaux resolves to return to France to report on the situation.
1851 | Guadeloupe
Mgr. Lacarri"re sets out for Guade-loupe and Mgr. Leherpeur for Martinique. They are the first bishops of the new "colonial" dioceses, the creation of which was one of the last major tasks of Libermann.
1866 | Angola
The first three Spiritans disembark at the port of Ambriz from the steamer "Lincolnshire": Frs. Joseph Marie Poussot (Vice-Prefect), Antoine Espitallié and Etienne Billon (an Agregé).
1921 | Makurdi
The first serious attempt at a mission to the Tiv people of central Nigeria: Frs Mellett (Ireland) and Douvry (France) go to live in Ogoja to the north-east of Igboland and within striking distance of the vast unexplored area to the north.
