St. Patrick's Missionary Society

The St. Patrick's Society for Foreign Missions (Latin: Societas Sancti Patritii per Missionibus ad Exteros, English:. St. Patrick's Society for the Foreign Missions, Religious symbol: SPS) is a Roman Catholic Society of Apostolic Life. The parent company is located in the Irish Kiltegan ( County Wicklow ), therefore, it was found that the religious priests were also known by the name "The Kiltegan Fathers ".

History

In 1930 a house was rented with land in Kiltegan tentatively, here gathered the priests of the diocese and prepared their missionary work in Africa. The first three founding members were Father Patrick Joseph Whitney (1894-1942), which should be the first Superior General later, and his cousin, Father Patrick Francis Whitney and Father Francis Hickey. End of 1930, Patrick J. Whitney and seven other priests went on her first mission to Nigeria.

Extensions

After the foundation was silk, by Patrick J. Whitney, on March 17, 1932 St. Patrick 's Day, takes place, the company gave the motto " Caritas Christi urget Nos " ( "For Christ's love compels us ..." ) (2 Cor 5.14 EU). On 9 December 1958, the Missionary Society received the Decretum Laudis by the Holy See. Back in 1939, could be sent to Africa by Kiltegan about 60 young missionaries, the small town had in the meantime developed with education and training center of " Kiltegan - Fathers ". Early as 1940, began the independent priestly formation for African and indigenous candidates to the priesthood, in addition to the training center now also created a seminary. First, the missionaries worked in Nigeria and Kenya, and later at the request of Rome and since 1960 in Brazil and Grenada.

Since 1950 the number of applicants was very greatly increased, there was a second house opened in Kiltegan and the number of priests grew to over 200. In September 1997, the Company opened two more seminars in Nigeria and Kenya and was able to send in January 2000, several own students in the University of Nairobi in order to record the study of philosophy and medicine.

Organization

For the main task of the missionary society counts the dissemination and communication of the Gospel, this applies to all people in the world, but especially for the poor, sick and hungry. The organization participates in many projects included in 2002 to their 382 members, of whom 333 are priests. In 18 countries, the Order maintains offices, these include: Cameroon, Kenya, Malawi, Sudan, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Uganda, Grenada, Brazil, USA, Italy, England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. Besides their own seminaries, colleges and convent facilities include two houses in which retreats are offered. In Tearmann Spirituality Centre in Glendalough six-day spiritual courses are conducted while the Slí to Chroi in the beautiful scenery offered by Kiltegan holidays. The society published since 1938, a year nine editions of the Africa Magazine.